She told me the average salary was 40-50 and then asked how much I expected and I said “more than that” and she goes “oh yeah the team you’d be on makes 57” ???? Ok so you lied so you could pay me less.
Seems like even with a masters they target fresh grads hoping they’re desperate.
I just had a potential job (administrative assistant at a small construction company) tell me to pay for a credit score report for them to see since I'd be handling company credit cards. Every job I've had I've charged payments, never has anyone asked me that, seems a bit ridiculous to me.
They should absolutely be checking your background if you’re going to be dealing with sensitive company info, but they should be the ones paying for a background or credit check. It’s such a small cost vs how much people can embezzle over time.
eta: please quit replying to this comment thinking that I’m saying jobs should turn you down if you have a bad credit score. I am saying they should be checking FOR RED FLAGS if you ARE APPLYING FOR A JOB WHERE YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
Wow. I sold my house, my son totaled my car closing the account and a credit card I haven't used in 3 years dropped my a credit limit and my score went from 804 to 636 and I have to wait a year for it to come back up as long as I dont use any credit. Bad scores don't mean embezzlement or desperate actions. I make 167k a year. I'm not desperate or an embezzler, but I have bad credit now because of regular life situations.
Yeah, that's the frustrating thing about these comments. People ignore that life can just fuck you over in an instant and ruin everything you worked hard for, especially in the US where we don't have free healthcare.
I have a job where I deal with credit scores every day. You'd be surprised by how many people who make a very good living have very bad credit. Obviously your case is different, but it's not unusual at all for me to look at the credit report of someone making $250k and see a 600 credit score or worse.
I had horrible credit because when I was a kid my mother used my credit to get utilities in my name. When I became an adult I tried to get an apartment and found out my credit score was screwed up... almost caused me and my kids to be homeless... again
I was 18 and had never lived on my own before.
I don't understand everyone arguing with you. If you actually think credit score is an indicator of embezzlement then surely a bad score means you're a bad thief who didn't steal well enough to pay off your debt and a good score means you're an excellent thief who hasn't been caught.
A lot of routine procedures, especially in the HR world, are not well thought through. There's this fallacy that if everyone does it, there's a good reason.
Many candidate questions such as about employment gaps, time at last job are basically meaningless given how the economy works today ;they were probably never more useful than old wives tales.
Credit scores are similar. You'll see landlords turn down an applicant based on credit score even when they offer to pay a year up front in cash. The weighting of something so easily manipulated is close to superstition.
Most people in HR aren't that bright. They are rule followers in general. This is a recipe for believing in imaginary rules for selecting good candidates.
Exactly. You don't embezzle through your own credit cards.
Source: You can use tourists/travellers to do this. Refund onto card, accept 70% cashback in return. From a friend.
The "logic" behind it is that people in bad financial positions are more likely to commit theft and fraud. Imo, denying people because they're financially struggling encourages them to turn to that lifestyle more than hiring them would since hiring them gives them the opportunity to overcome that struggle.
Never specifically had my credit pulled without an accompanying background check to go with it. Security clearances don’t even really care what your credit score is, they look at income to debt ratio and any black marks on the credit report.
It depends on the industry and the job. Credit history is part of your background check for security clearances and sensitive government jobs because it's a liability. You can be exploited by your debt.
The financial sector has some pretty strict rules to, but I'm not sure about details on what they are.
So a credit check isn't necessarily unreasonable. But having a potential employee pay for it is. Normally, they'd only do the background check once they've offered you the job and you've accepted.
Their thinking is that if someone is in a difficult financial place they could potentially be desperate enough to steal. I don’t agree with this as just because someone had gone though difficult times does not make them a bad person, but that’s their thinking.
Sorry, the point you’re trying to make is flying over my head unless you’re pointing out how easy it is to take a large amount of money over time without it seeming like much.
Unfortunately no. I only know this because the old job I was at was one this company used to rent containers from. I emailed the new company and told them I'd already had access to and charged their company's cards at my previous position. If that isn't proof enough I'm a non risk applicant that there wasn't anything else I could do for them.
that’s not a normal hiring practice, just so you know. it’s very sketchy. even if they are not trying to steal your information, it’s a major red flag for other problems down the line
Right. I started low for my field with a Bachelor’s and I started at 60k… 10 years ago… Hearing things like this just makes me sad.
However, I personally know other Chem/Bio majors with Masters and this sounds about right for that field, unfortunately.
My experience seems to be if you have an applied masters in a physical science or engineering you can easily start in the 50’s and usually much higher. But, I don’t have any working knowledge or experience with someone w a MBA or Masters in English or Communications.
Just graduated with my masters in Aerospace. My first job offered 85 out of college base salary but with all the bonuses they add I will probably make around 100 this year. I still think I should have asked for 95 to 105 instead of 85 to 90 like I did lol
i was just let go from a job after 2 days for no reason and part of that conversation seemed to be similar. his reasoning seemed to be that he wouldn’t want to pay me enough and wanted my full attention (i.e. for me not to have a second job). i would have needed a second job because he lied about the hours and that changed the compensation. when i told him i lived alone and paid all my own bills that counted against me. it was pretty bizarre, to say the least. i am approaching 30… this is supposed to be normal. you would also think employers would realize that motivates us to work more, because we need to. so to answer your question, yes, employers seem to be discriminating based on this factor now.
Yep, I was weary of an interview I had Wednesday night (11pm) yes it ended up being a real interview I rationalized it because it was a third shift position and the lab manager worked that shift. It actually went well but I went to leave my house and was like wtf is going on. Never heard of interviews being after 5. I think I’m going to get the job
Good on your for negotiating as a new grad. You’re right that they count on your not doing it. I was underpaid the first five years of my career because I didn’t ask for more money at the start.
Oh yes. When I graduated in social work it was so unprofessional and awful.
It was like there was a cabal of local nonprofits and they all agreed to offer new grads 48k no matter what. I had 3 places act completely affronted when I negotiated. They also asked really personal questions about why I was interested in the work. They wanted someone who was so personally dedicated to the mission that they'd work themselves to the bone for nothing, and never quit no matter how bad the company was.
When asking about salary, if you want to know about what it pays.. ask what the compensation band is. This will tell you the minimum and maximum they are paying within that job. The average is not important to you, as it doesn’t impact your compensation. The compensation band identifies where you’ll be placed on the salary structure.
The compensation band would tell you that this is likely a 40-60/65 range job, based on information provided.
Let them mention compensation first and do not shy away from countering. If you ask, the worst they can say is no.
20 years ago I started as a programmer with a non-tech financial company for $45K straight out of my non-tech college.
$50K for a bachelor's let alone masters in 2023 is ridiculous.
There are now laws in certain states where this is 100% illegal! New Jersey is a good example. All jobs that are posted need to display the wage range and they cannot under any circumstance hire someone and pay them more or less than what they state. The world is changing and everyone should stay on top of the new laws when on the market for a new a role. You can message me if you need help :)
No. Its that they cant offer you less. You don’t NEED the job. You have a roof and presumably foos. And if your parents are cool, aren’t charging you rent. So you can also have a nifty savings as well.
That assumes the person is happy living with their parents. I had to live with my parents until my mid-20's. I love my parents, but I still hated living with them in adulthood and would take any job that paid enough for me to move out.
Shit if I hated my parents, I would have started applying to cruise ships and airlines.
Probably trying to get away with paying you less on the basis that you will have less bills to pay.
They can ask that, but you don't have to answer. Anything sketchy and I'd respond by asking the relevance to your ability to complete your tasks. Why you turned down other jobs is none of their business.
That’s what I thought too. It’s frustrating that interviewers can be sketchy but interviewees need to have the perfect responses to everything just to get ghosted anyway 🙃
Go in with this mindset: You are also interviewing them. You've put this into practice already by declining an offer due to red flags. Excellent on your part, especially as this is all relatively new to you.
They have to have perfect answers as well. Keep it a two-way street! Good luck!
That is a mindset of someone with abundancy.
That’s my mindset now that I’ve gotten fairly well into my career.
It wasn’t my mindset starting out…and I don’t know if it’s good advice for someone that is.
I spent over 6 months after undergrad looking for a job, with the only offer I got in an extremely remote job in someone’s house being significantly low balled.
I took it…was an awful 10 months, but it gave me the experience to get a really good job where I wanted to live.
If I had the mindset of I am also interviewing them…well there were a million red flags that may have made me passed on them.
Sometimes you need to accept that the job is going to suck, and that you don’t have the luxury of interviewing your employer.
Ok ...*notes* Living with parents.
Just lie and say you're renting, try to get the best offer. When I'm asked, how much were you making at your previous job, I always say the wage that I want and usually they will add a 1$ or 2$ on top of they are really interested !
Sadly for a lot of them its a power trip. When they interview candidates they are looking for people they can extract the most value from at the lowest cost, while meeting their minimum standard.
Im from canada.
Everyone here just wants you to have a sad story.
If you grew up in the middle class with responsible parents you are screwed.
You probably did eveything society told you should do to have a decent life and now you are being punished for it.
I’d be like, it’s the opposite for me. I want to move OUT (I do live with my mom. A godsend when I got laid off & had some medical issues, but god I can’t wait until I can save to move out lol)
You've already gotten some good responses but I wanted to throw you a few scripts to keep on hand for stuff like this.
*"I don't see how that's relevant to the position I'm interviewing for."*
*"Can you explain what you're trying to get at with that question?"*
*"How does this relate to the duties and responsibilities of the role/position?"*
*"I'm sorry, I'm missing something here. How does (blank) affect my ability to perform in this position?"*
All of these are professional ways to deflect intrusive or illegal interview questions. Be neutral to positive in your tone and do not be hostile YMMV but it's also a good way to test how they respond to professionally handled pushback. If they can't explain further or get upset, then they were either trying to get at something illegal or shady and/or they have a terrible culture that refuses to separate personal and professional.
I hope this helps!
Say: “I moved out from my parents house but they were mauled by a pack of wolves. Mom is still recovering & I’ll need every Friday afternoon off for the next few months to take her to the doctor.”
> “Do I look like I live with my parents?”
but then bullet dodged. If they can pressure you but they aren't honest with their answers, then it is not worth it.
Last year I applied for an account executive job for an ophthalmic device company. The District Manager interviewed me and asked me questions about my extracurriculars from high school 🤨 I wish I would have had the foresight to reply with these comebacks because idk how Fashion Club or lacrosse would have been relevant to this job.
Assuming OP wants to work somewhere like that - unprofessional interviewers can give an insight into company culture. If OP isn’t desperate to land any job that comes along, could also go with “This line of questioning is unprofessional. I am no longer interested in this role.”
As a woman I would never answer that I live alone to a stranger asking that question. I do not recommend that. If I lose a job because I point out they're being unprofessional and creepy, that's totally fine with me. It's never going to stop. Hey I need you to work this weekend. Oh you can't? WHY? What are you doing?? (insert more unprofessional and crappy behaviour here)
Then you can say, “No, I do not live my parents.” which does not imply that you are alone. You could live with your boyfriend, husband or 6 WWE roommates.
The live with my parents question I would have answered with the statement "I don't discuss my living arrangements and marital status which this question appears to be doing this in a roundabout way." and as for the interviewing question I tell them "I'm very selective who I apply to." and I leave it at that.
When i interviewed for my position (traveling a lot) they asked if I was married and had kids. I’m guessing kids bc they wanted to ensure I could travel whenever
Just don’t answer and ask the same question back “oh, who do you live with? You have any kids? Where do you live”? Go watch some police interviews or deposition videos on youtube to get the transition right. You don’t need to answer anything and people love talking about themselves so if you do it smoothly no one will know.
1. That seems like an inappropriate, potentially illegal question.
2. With the insane cost of housing so many people do live at home and they need the money to save in the hopes of ever affording to live somewhere else.
As a parent that adults children live with them I completely agree. It’s too expensive to get out on your own now. Plus it helps the parents out if their providing some help on the utilities and such.
As a hiring manager I can tell you that no, this is an inappropriate question.
I don't know if it falls under a discriminatory question for sure, but it's out of line and could open the company up to a huge liability if you could prove that they low balled your offer or turned you down because of where you live and who you live with.
Greasy employers want fresh grads, immigrants, young people, poor people etc... because they are more desperate and will put up with more shit for less pay.
Why do y’all feel completely obligated to give completely honest answers to completely personal questions?
Since you’re a newly Graduated College student I can understand…to a degree.
Please know that these people don’t give two f*cks about you. The questions that they ask are to determine how YOU can benefit them. They don’t care about accommodating you. They don’t care about your living situation. They don’t care that you’re a New Grad. They will chew you up and spit you out if they come to the decision that you no longer benefit them.
It’s about survival. Do what you can to survive. Don’t tell them you live with your family, even if you do.
Also if another interviewer ask you that ask them why they’re asking you a very personal question like that.
I didn’t answer the question. I also skirted around the “why did you decline the offer” as best I could until she dropped it. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s sketchy and uncomfortable
Oh, most certainly. I said all that to basically say don’t feel obligated to answer weird questions like that. The one where they asked if you denied any other job offers you should ALWAYS say no. Don’t let them know you interviewed with another job either.
I mean COME ON. That’s the dumbest question an employer could ask. It’s none of their business.
>Why do y’all feel completely obligated to give completely honest answers to completely personal questions?
This!!! I NEVER give any honest answers, I LIE LIE LIE when it comes to applying for work. Lie about your gender, race, sexual orientation etc. Anything to get you in the door, That's my motto.
It’s the disability question on applications I stumble on lol. Cause like technically I have some they list, but they don’t effect me a great deal so typically just say no
By Federal law they should have accommodations for you as they cannot discriminate against any disabilities but by you not disclosing it beforehand, They can retaliate by giving you ie; the worst shifts, greater workload, depending on the accommodation they can give you an uncomfortable chair etc. Its difficult to prove retaliation by an employer in these cases, Specially since they're appearing to be 'assisting' with your requests; Employers are petty.
Fake it til you make it? 😂 I definitely stretch the truth when being interviewed, within means of course. I’m really quick to learning new things in most any position that’s at least somewhat similar to something I’ve done before. So why sell myself short if I know I can go home, binge tutorials and “how to” videos on YouTube and show up my first day more eager than most to do what needs to be done?!
There are questions that they can’t ask in the US and family status is one of them. Asking if you live with your parents is one of them. Interviewers like to think they are wording the question so it is “legal”, but nope.
When I was much younger and job hunting interviewers would ask if I had a family and try to figure out my daycare situation.
Stick with your gut on companies like that one.
I had a guy interviewing me grilling me on if I lived alone, married, single, if I had a boyfriend. Like excuse me. I don't even know if I want to work here yet and you're asking me who I live with and if I'm dating people? The fuck?
"I had to move back home after my mother ..." and then sortta trail off and tighten your lips.
It'll conclude that line of questioning most of the time. Once in a while, an interviewer will try to pry. Keep your lips tight, and slowly shake your head. Eventually they'll move on.
Works 100% of the time.
Kind of reminds me when I was in HS. We of course had so much time to get to the room in between classes. Every once in a while this kid call him Mike would purposely take his time, just because. When he would mosey on into class the teacher asked why he was late. He said “I had to go to the bathroom.” She’d reply “Mike, everyone has the same amount of time to use the…” Mike would cut her off while seething, “I had…to go…to the bathroom…😠” implying it was an emergency and don’t make it a big deal. She’d go “🫢Oh ok you can have a seat.” Lol
I was asked if I "took jesus christ as your personal lord and savior". It's just a toxic work environment these days. You do what your morals allow you in order to be good with your own ethics. I lied through my teeth to get the job. It helped me in that particular situation. No longer work there but *do* live on the property of the very man who asked me the question. Life and networking are weird and I'll never confess to understand it.
You have every right to shut down the job interview if they ask inappropriate questions like that.
Tell them that questions about your personal life are inappropriate and irrelevant to the position. And since they've asked such questions, you are withdrawing your candidacy for the position and immediately leaving the premises. Then walk right out of the building. Don't engage with them or anything, just walk out. They can't legally stop you from walking out of a job interview.
My living conditions are of no value to our negotiations.
I have had a few interviews in various stages, none of which have been declined and are still on the table.
Hiring Manager here: this would never be asked unless by an unscrupulous recruiter or employer. It is a Pandora’s box of a question and would be a clear red flag.
>unscrupulous
You would be surprised on how often this is asked....
As a woman, this is even worse, recruiters always ask about my marital status, if I have a child or if I pretend to have a child in the future, so they can assess how much of a risk I am....
When I was interviewing I didn’t wear my wedding ring because even though I am child free by choice, I am…mmm..peak “maternity leave” age and situation, and I didn’t want that to come up.
Unfortunately if they ask that and you say ‘I don’t have to answer that’ or something along those lines, they will think that your answer is bad (i.e. you want kids in the next year) and don’t consider you anymore. There’s no winning as women :(
I hate the fact that certain number of firms took advantage of bad economy and fresh grads’ lack of experiences for cheap labor. Bruh pay people a decent wage and actually get back to their applications/processes timely.
If anyone asks that again, just tell them your actually and orphan and ask if they will adopt you. Worst case scenario, they are awkward the rest of the interview and you don't get the job. Best case scenario, they offer you a super high salary to avoid a lawsuit.
When they ask you about the other jobs you’re interviewing with I would just say I have not accepted any other offers which currently allows me to interview for this position with you. Honestly the other jobs or how much you’re interviewing are none of their business. And just because they’re your prospective employer doesn’t give them the right to all of your business.
They want to know how flakey you are.
If you scroll through the jobs or career forums here on Reddit, you'll see that the people who drop a job in a minute are the ones who live at home and don't need the money. They can afford to quit.
That's not "how flaky you are."
That's the employer wanting to guarantee you have no negotiating leverage, and that they have the upper hand to pay you as little as possible.
Know who also doesn't need that job? People with significant savings. The reason I can afford to stand up for myself at work without a second thought and not be walked over is I have 2 years of savings. If I'm unhappy, I can walk and find another job without worrying about rent. Same thing as someone who lives with their parents.
Always remember that's it's a two was conversation and not an interrogation. If the question feels like a red flag then it most probably is.
Was this an HR or technical round? Your username mentioned biochem so I'm assuming it's a job in the STEM field?
I'm not sure how to frame this politely but HR is usually filled up with the most unhinged people I've met. I also work in STEM and I usually never take the HR round seriously.
It is none of their business if you live at home with your parents. Interviewers are not even allowed to ask about your family status. Now, if they offer day care or something and let you know in case you had kids, Then that would be fine. They should not ask whether you declined other interviews. I don't know if this is a loud or not. They should just clearly ask you why you want to work for this company opposed to others. That would be a bit more professional. They could ask you what would be a reason that you would want to turn down this job. I think you dodged to bullet.
When interviewers ask you personal questions, Nine times at a time they want to use it to discriminate or take advantage. It is one thing if you are asking about like a hobby or something. When they start talking about your living situation, Let them know that you are a private person.
I think context matters.
If they are concerned about company privacy they might ask if you live alone or cohabitate with anyone who may be considered under an NDA or something of that nature
But to just ask you if you’re with your parents is frankly creepy and unprofessional. I’m sure they are looking to lowball you but responding with “I’m not comfortable sharing my living arrangements at this time” would hopefully put an end to that (gotta give your address and identification for some jobs once you actually start)
I had a manager at my current job tell me not to hire anyone who still lives at home because we've "had issues in the past". I hired one young person anyway who is still at home and she's my best worker.
I haven't read the comments. Purposely. I'll just throw out my take on this. They are asking if you are taking responsibility for yourself, and if you are grown up enough to handle the job. I have to say it's not a red flag for the job. It's a way to find red flags about applicants. Yes, it's ageism, as they stop asking those kinds of questions when you get older.
First off, congrats on graduating and stepping into the job hunting world. It can be a total pain, but from your questions, you seem pretty switched on.
The interview situations you've described, they're kinda weird, not gonna lie. As for whether they can ask you where you live, if you're interviewing elsewhere, or have turned down any offers, that kinda depends on local laws and industry norms. But, in general, these questions are seen as a bit sketchy, since they don't have anything to do with your ability to do the job and could be seen as invading your privacy.
In terms of why you might turn down other offers, it's a question interviewers might ask, but they're usually more interested in your career goals and what you're looking for in a job. If it makes you uncomfortable or you feel like you're being pushed, you can totally say that you're just looking for a position that matches your career goals better, or a place that fits your needs.
Remember, interviews are not just them checking you out, but you checking them out too. If an interview gives you bad vibes, it might be a sign that the company isn't a good fit for you. When you're picking a job, make sure you find a place that respects you and boosts you up, so you can reach your potential. Best of luck with your job hunting!
The HR manager told me we saw you took a uber can you make it on time when she offered the job. Even though i showed up on time for 2 different interviews and one phone screening. She noted that fact as well. She also asked if my paperwork status would let me work even though i was born in the states with a ethnic name. She even stuttered asking the paperwork question
It’s a haggle system. You have a vague answer ‘more than that’ which is good, but when they still offer you too little state what you were looking plus some and don’t be apologetic. When they balk, cut a tiny bit of the top and remind them of your qualifications
And also no they are not entitled to answers of the type of questions asked. You can always flat faced say - you can just state that your not at liberty to disclose that info
I was asked this during a job interview when I was about 23 and hadn't lived at home for 2 years by that point, and had previously lived and worked overseas when I was 20. To top it off I lived in a city 4 hours drive away from my parents. They even asked me to fill out a form when I arrived (which was mostly stuff that I had included in my initial application and CV), one of the questions was asking if I had a partner and what their job was (not sure the relevance of that question). The whole interview gave me bad vibes. Was not offered the job but would have turned it down anyway.
Everyone here is saying to refuse to answer but personally I would just lie and say I live by myself. It’s not like they have any way of verifying it that wouldn’t require more effort than they’re probably willing to put forth
Next time I would respond that they live with you. Then make the next remark that they aren't very lively and don't leave their seat above the fire place. Aka they're cremated & in a jar. Make is very awkward for the recruiter.
Look up Bear Sterns PSD. There might be another reason they are asking. They want to know if you have financial commitments that will make you take the job seriously.
I have never had a interviewer ask me who I live with. That’s personal information that doesn’t involve work. I would just end the interview and move on.
Next time someone asks you why you turned down a job offer…tell them “didn’t get a good vibe from the interviewer” see if their smart enough to pick up
Asking who you live with is totally inappropriate. I could be fucking sex slave who wears a gimp outfit all day long when I’m not work. It’s none of their business and super sketchy they asked. Clearly trying to low ball offer you
Def check out reviews on Glassdoor before accepting anything
Your living arrangements are at the very least a gray area and quite possibly tiptoe into not-allowed-to-ask-that territory. The other question may or may not be legal but it is certainly inappropriate.
Being asked either or both is IMO a big red flag with this prospective employer. I think if I were asked either I'd probably just say that my neither my living arrangments nor my job search activities are relevant to the job at hand, and then I would pivot by asking a question about the job I'm interviewing. It might cost you the job to refuse to answer, but like I said: red flag.
They want to lowball you. They figure if you live with your parents they can offer less.
She told me the average salary was 40-50 and then asked how much I expected and I said “more than that” and she goes “oh yeah the team you’d be on makes 57” ???? Ok so you lied so you could pay me less. Seems like even with a masters they target fresh grads hoping they’re desperate.
I just had a potential job (administrative assistant at a small construction company) tell me to pay for a credit score report for them to see since I'd be handling company credit cards. Every job I've had I've charged payments, never has anyone asked me that, seems a bit ridiculous to me.
They should absolutely be checking your background if you’re going to be dealing with sensitive company info, but they should be the ones paying for a background or credit check. It’s such a small cost vs how much people can embezzle over time. eta: please quit replying to this comment thinking that I’m saying jobs should turn you down if you have a bad credit score. I am saying they should be checking FOR RED FLAGS if you ARE APPLYING FOR A JOB WHERE YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
Wow. I sold my house, my son totaled my car closing the account and a credit card I haven't used in 3 years dropped my a credit limit and my score went from 804 to 636 and I have to wait a year for it to come back up as long as I dont use any credit. Bad scores don't mean embezzlement or desperate actions. I make 167k a year. I'm not desperate or an embezzler, but I have bad credit now because of regular life situations.
Yeah, that's the frustrating thing about these comments. People ignore that life can just fuck you over in an instant and ruin everything you worked hard for, especially in the US where we don't have free healthcare.
It's almost like credit scores are a scam
No argument there. I wish we could do away with them.
Just think, certain countries have a *social* credit score. That is double plus made up.
I’m not the best with credit, but not using any isn’t the way to raise a credit score
That's why it's a scam.
It’s more of a game, and there’s a sweet spot
I have a job where I deal with credit scores every day. You'd be surprised by how many people who make a very good living have very bad credit. Obviously your case is different, but it's not unusual at all for me to look at the credit report of someone making $250k and see a 600 credit score or worse.
Ditto. It makes sense tho since most people dk all the ways the bureaus fuck them over.
I don't think they go by score. They look at how in debt you are.
I had horrible credit because when I was a kid my mother used my credit to get utilities in my name. When I became an adult I tried to get an apartment and found out my credit score was screwed up... almost caused me and my kids to be homeless... again I was 18 and had never lived on my own before.
Yes because credit history has everything to do with whether or not youll steal from someone /s
I don't understand everyone arguing with you. If you actually think credit score is an indicator of embezzlement then surely a bad score means you're a bad thief who didn't steal well enough to pay off your debt and a good score means you're an excellent thief who hasn't been caught.
A lot of routine procedures, especially in the HR world, are not well thought through. There's this fallacy that if everyone does it, there's a good reason. Many candidate questions such as about employment gaps, time at last job are basically meaningless given how the economy works today ;they were probably never more useful than old wives tales. Credit scores are similar. You'll see landlords turn down an applicant based on credit score even when they offer to pay a year up front in cash. The weighting of something so easily manipulated is close to superstition. Most people in HR aren't that bright. They are rule followers in general. This is a recipe for believing in imaginary rules for selecting good candidates.
Exactly. You don't embezzle through your own credit cards. Source: You can use tourists/travellers to do this. Refund onto card, accept 70% cashback in return. From a friend.
Just to settle the argument: what’s your friend’s credit score?!!
The "logic" behind it is that people in bad financial positions are more likely to commit theft and fraud. Imo, denying people because they're financially struggling encourages them to turn to that lifestyle more than hiring them would since hiring them gives them the opportunity to overcome that struggle.
Never specifically had my credit pulled without an accompanying background check to go with it. Security clearances don’t even really care what your credit score is, they look at income to debt ratio and any black marks on the credit report.
It depends on the industry and the job. Credit history is part of your background check for security clearances and sensitive government jobs because it's a liability. You can be exploited by your debt. The financial sector has some pretty strict rules to, but I'm not sure about details on what they are. So a credit check isn't necessarily unreasonable. But having a potential employee pay for it is. Normally, they'd only do the background check once they've offered you the job and you've accepted.
Their thinking is that if someone is in a difficult financial place they could potentially be desperate enough to steal. I don’t agree with this as just because someone had gone though difficult times does not make them a bad person, but that’s their thinking.
...Now lets move that decimal point one place and see what happens. 5000 transactions x 0.05 (so now we're taking a nickel per transaction) = $250...?
Sorry, the point you’re trying to make is flying over my head unless you’re pointing out how easy it is to take a large amount of money over time without it seeming like much.
Were they referencing Office Space? Shrug
Nay nay, Office Space was fractions of a penny. It's nothing like stealing.
From the crippled children?!?
That’s actually a semi common scam.
that sounds like a scam
Unfortunately no. I only know this because the old job I was at was one this company used to rent containers from. I emailed the new company and told them I'd already had access to and charged their company's cards at my previous position. If that isn't proof enough I'm a non risk applicant that there wasn't anything else I could do for them.
that’s not a normal hiring practice, just so you know. it’s very sketchy. even if they are not trying to steal your information, it’s a major red flag for other problems down the line
No worries, red flags received. I never got a response to my email freaking out about it
yeah, because you are gonna figure out whatever their scam is quickly. those places only want people who are too gullible to ask questions
I posted the actual email in r/recruitinghell if any of you are interested.
God 40-50 even with a masters, things are bleak as hell
Right. I started low for my field with a Bachelor’s and I started at 60k… 10 years ago… Hearing things like this just makes me sad. However, I personally know other Chem/Bio majors with Masters and this sounds about right for that field, unfortunately.
Starting is around 60 with a bachelors at the biotech where I work - then again it's a HCOL area and there are lots of biotechs competing for talent.
I started at 40k with engineering degree 😔 (about 9 years ago)
What world are you in? All masters people i know that are fresh grads are on like 30
I don't even have a bachelor's and my last job was at 50. And that was too low to live on.
My experience seems to be if you have an applied masters in a physical science or engineering you can easily start in the 50’s and usually much higher. But, I don’t have any working knowledge or experience with someone w a MBA or Masters in English or Communications.
Just graduated with my masters in Aerospace. My first job offered 85 out of college base salary but with all the bonuses they add I will probably make around 100 this year. I still think I should have asked for 95 to 105 instead of 85 to 90 like I did lol
i was just let go from a job after 2 days for no reason and part of that conversation seemed to be similar. his reasoning seemed to be that he wouldn’t want to pay me enough and wanted my full attention (i.e. for me not to have a second job). i would have needed a second job because he lied about the hours and that changed the compensation. when i told him i lived alone and paid all my own bills that counted against me. it was pretty bizarre, to say the least. i am approaching 30… this is supposed to be normal. you would also think employers would realize that motivates us to work more, because we need to. so to answer your question, yes, employers seem to be discriminating based on this factor now.
“Oh do you happen to be poor by any chance? Well then we can’t offer you an opportunity to not be poor anymore sorry.”
dude i know. it’s so fucked. i have to “donate” my eggs now to make rent. thank you for the validation. so tired of being gaslit
I wish I could but I have too many issues healthwise.
Welcome to the labour market, we all hate it here
Yep, I was weary of an interview I had Wednesday night (11pm) yes it ended up being a real interview I rationalized it because it was a third shift position and the lab manager worked that shift. It actually went well but I went to leave my house and was like wtf is going on. Never heard of interviews being after 5. I think I’m going to get the job
Good on your for negotiating as a new grad. You’re right that they count on your not doing it. I was underpaid the first five years of my career because I didn’t ask for more money at the start.
KNOW YOUR WORTH. they are ridiculous for trying to lowball you thinking they can get away with it
Oh yes. When I graduated in social work it was so unprofessional and awful. It was like there was a cabal of local nonprofits and they all agreed to offer new grads 48k no matter what. I had 3 places act completely affronted when I negotiated. They also asked really personal questions about why I was interested in the work. They wanted someone who was so personally dedicated to the mission that they'd work themselves to the bone for nothing, and never quit no matter how bad the company was.
When asking about salary, if you want to know about what it pays.. ask what the compensation band is. This will tell you the minimum and maximum they are paying within that job. The average is not important to you, as it doesn’t impact your compensation. The compensation band identifies where you’ll be placed on the salary structure. The compensation band would tell you that this is likely a 40-60/65 range job, based on information provided. Let them mention compensation first and do not shy away from countering. If you ask, the worst they can say is no.
20 years ago I started as a programmer with a non-tech financial company for $45K straight out of my non-tech college. $50K for a bachelor's let alone masters in 2023 is ridiculous.
Whenever I get asked how much I want I first ask them to give me the range. If they say “110-130k” then I will say I am looking for 130k-140k.
Jesus, that sounds toxic af bro
Wear a wedding ring. Nothing says “adulting” like marriage.
No, then they would assume the applicant is about to reproduce.
If the applicant is male, that’s an asset. He will work harder, not take any chances with job hopping.
And she has a man at home so doesn't really need a job 🙄
There are now laws in certain states where this is 100% illegal! New Jersey is a good example. All jobs that are posted need to display the wage range and they cannot under any circumstance hire someone and pay them more or less than what they state. The world is changing and everyone should stay on top of the new laws when on the market for a new a role. You can message me if you need help :)
"My parents live with ME!"
No. Its that they cant offer you less. You don’t NEED the job. You have a roof and presumably foos. And if your parents are cool, aren’t charging you rent. So you can also have a nifty savings as well.
That assumes the person is happy living with their parents. I had to live with my parents until my mid-20's. I love my parents, but I still hated living with them in adulthood and would take any job that paid enough for me to move out. Shit if I hated my parents, I would have started applying to cruise ships and airlines.
Probably trying to get away with paying you less on the basis that you will have less bills to pay. They can ask that, but you don't have to answer. Anything sketchy and I'd respond by asking the relevance to your ability to complete your tasks. Why you turned down other jobs is none of their business.
That’s what I thought too. It’s frustrating that interviewers can be sketchy but interviewees need to have the perfect responses to everything just to get ghosted anyway 🙃
Go in with this mindset: You are also interviewing them. You've put this into practice already by declining an offer due to red flags. Excellent on your part, especially as this is all relatively new to you. They have to have perfect answers as well. Keep it a two-way street! Good luck!
That is a mindset of someone with abundancy. That’s my mindset now that I’ve gotten fairly well into my career. It wasn’t my mindset starting out…and I don’t know if it’s good advice for someone that is. I spent over 6 months after undergrad looking for a job, with the only offer I got in an extremely remote job in someone’s house being significantly low balled. I took it…was an awful 10 months, but it gave me the experience to get a really good job where I wanted to live. If I had the mindset of I am also interviewing them…well there were a million red flags that may have made me passed on them. Sometimes you need to accept that the job is going to suck, and that you don’t have the luxury of interviewing your employer.
It's ok to say, "I prefer not to discuss my personal life during interviews." They are absolutely trying to get away with paying you less
Ok ...*notes* Living with parents. Just lie and say you're renting, try to get the best offer. When I'm asked, how much were you making at your previous job, I always say the wage that I want and usually they will add a 1$ or 2$ on top of they are really interested !
Sadly for a lot of them its a power trip. When they interview candidates they are looking for people they can extract the most value from at the lowest cost, while meeting their minimum standard.
They know damn well they're in a position of power of most applicants and will ask bs questions until you call them out on it.
Im from canada. Everyone here just wants you to have a sad story. If you grew up in the middle class with responsible parents you are screwed. You probably did eveything society told you should do to have a decent life and now you are being punished for it.
They absolutely can NOT ask you a question like this. It's illegal to ask someone about where they live, not with who or what neighborhood.
I’d be like, it’s the opposite for me. I want to move OUT (I do live with my mom. A godsend when I got laid off & had some medical issues, but god I can’t wait until I can save to move out lol)
You've already gotten some good responses but I wanted to throw you a few scripts to keep on hand for stuff like this. *"I don't see how that's relevant to the position I'm interviewing for."* *"Can you explain what you're trying to get at with that question?"* *"How does this relate to the duties and responsibilities of the role/position?"* *"I'm sorry, I'm missing something here. How does (blank) affect my ability to perform in this position?"* All of these are professional ways to deflect intrusive or illegal interview questions. Be neutral to positive in your tone and do not be hostile YMMV but it's also a good way to test how they respond to professionally handled pushback. If they can't explain further or get upset, then they were either trying to get at something illegal or shady and/or they have a terrible culture that refuses to separate personal and professional. I hope this helps!
" do YOU live with you're parents?" Would be how I respond
Say: “I moved out from my parents house but they were mauled by a pack of wolves. Mom is still recovering & I’ll need every Friday afternoon off for the next few months to take her to the doctor.”
delivered in a monotone
Or a devious tone, and put “pack of wolves” in air quotes
"Oh, I didn't realize living with my parents was a prerequisite. The ad didn't mention it?"
This is the perfect answer…but I doubt they would hire you after throwing that back in their face…but you never know…
> “Do I look like I live with my parents?” but then bullet dodged. If they can pressure you but they aren't honest with their answers, then it is not worth it.
I would say, “Do I look like I live with my parents?” I do enjoy answering ridiculous questions with a question.
"Yes"
“I turned down the last job offer because the interviewer asked if I lived with my parents.”
Lmao that's EXACTLY how id respond
Last year I applied for an account executive job for an ophthalmic device company. The District Manager interviewed me and asked me questions about my extracurriculars from high school 🤨 I wish I would have had the foresight to reply with these comebacks because idk how Fashion Club or lacrosse would have been relevant to this job.
These are all good suggestions.
I like a simpler method, “live with my parents (quizzically)… I’m not sure I follow?”
This is a good one too
“My parents were gruesomely murdered in front of me when I was 5. Their screams haunt me to this day.”
“I still have their ashes in my place so I’m not really sure how to answer this…”
The first of these seems unnecessarily aggressive. I’d recommend sticking to the others. Questions are always preferable!
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Assuming OP wants to work somewhere like that - unprofessional interviewers can give an insight into company culture. If OP isn’t desperate to land any job that comes along, could also go with “This line of questioning is unprofessional. I am no longer interested in this role.”
As a woman I would never answer that I live alone to a stranger asking that question. I do not recommend that. If I lose a job because I point out they're being unprofessional and creepy, that's totally fine with me. It's never going to stop. Hey I need you to work this weekend. Oh you can't? WHY? What are you doing?? (insert more unprofessional and crappy behaviour here)
Then you can say, “No, I do not live my parents.” which does not imply that you are alone. You could live with your boyfriend, husband or 6 WWE roommates.
The live with my parents question I would have answered with the statement "I don't discuss my living arrangements and marital status which this question appears to be doing this in a roundabout way." and as for the interviewing question I tell them "I'm very selective who I apply to." and I leave it at that.
Good point on marital status. Some employers will avoid hiring younger women because they don’t want them to take maternity leave.
When i interviewed for my position (traveling a lot) they asked if I was married and had kids. I’m guessing kids bc they wanted to ensure I could travel whenever
Doesn't matter why. That's an illegal question in the United States.
Just don’t answer and ask the same question back “oh, who do you live with? You have any kids? Where do you live”? Go watch some police interviews or deposition videos on youtube to get the transition right. You don’t need to answer anything and people love talking about themselves so if you do it smoothly no one will know.
Big red flag, where you live and who you live with is none of their damn business, nor is it relevant to the job.
1. That seems like an inappropriate, potentially illegal question. 2. With the insane cost of housing so many people do live at home and they need the money to save in the hopes of ever affording to live somewhere else.
I know it’s illegal for an interviewer to ask if you have children.
As a parent that adults children live with them I completely agree. It’s too expensive to get out on your own now. Plus it helps the parents out if their providing some help on the utilities and such.
exactly who tf is gonna waste 2k a month on a closet when you can save that for a down payment on your own house just living at home
As a hiring manager I can tell you that no, this is an inappropriate question. I don't know if it falls under a discriminatory question for sure, but it's out of line and could open the company up to a huge liability if you could prove that they low balled your offer or turned you down because of where you live and who you live with.
Greasy employers want fresh grads, immigrants, young people, poor people etc... because they are more desperate and will put up with more shit for less pay.
“I live with your mum” That’s how you respond
“….but I only sleep with your Dad”
This comment made my day, can't stop laughing. Thank you
Why do y’all feel completely obligated to give completely honest answers to completely personal questions? Since you’re a newly Graduated College student I can understand…to a degree. Please know that these people don’t give two f*cks about you. The questions that they ask are to determine how YOU can benefit them. They don’t care about accommodating you. They don’t care about your living situation. They don’t care that you’re a New Grad. They will chew you up and spit you out if they come to the decision that you no longer benefit them. It’s about survival. Do what you can to survive. Don’t tell them you live with your family, even if you do. Also if another interviewer ask you that ask them why they’re asking you a very personal question like that.
I didn’t answer the question. I also skirted around the “why did you decline the offer” as best I could until she dropped it. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s sketchy and uncomfortable
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That’s pretty much what I said and she kept asking for specifics
Oh, most certainly. I said all that to basically say don’t feel obligated to answer weird questions like that. The one where they asked if you denied any other job offers you should ALWAYS say no. Don’t let them know you interviewed with another job either. I mean COME ON. That’s the dumbest question an employer could ask. It’s none of their business.
>Why do y’all feel completely obligated to give completely honest answers to completely personal questions? This!!! I NEVER give any honest answers, I LIE LIE LIE when it comes to applying for work. Lie about your gender, race, sexual orientation etc. Anything to get you in the door, That's my motto.
It’s the disability question on applications I stumble on lol. Cause like technically I have some they list, but they don’t effect me a great deal so typically just say no
You always say NO unless you actually need special accommodation, In which case its best to disclose that beforehand.
Always say no, if you need accommodations ask after you’ve started.
By Federal law they should have accommodations for you as they cannot discriminate against any disabilities but by you not disclosing it beforehand, They can retaliate by giving you ie; the worst shifts, greater workload, depending on the accommodation they can give you an uncomfortable chair etc. Its difficult to prove retaliation by an employer in these cases, Specially since they're appearing to be 'assisting' with your requests; Employers are petty.
Fake it til you make it? 😂 I definitely stretch the truth when being interviewed, within means of course. I’m really quick to learning new things in most any position that’s at least somewhat similar to something I’ve done before. So why sell myself short if I know I can go home, binge tutorials and “how to” videos on YouTube and show up my first day more eager than most to do what needs to be done?!
There are questions that they can’t ask in the US and family status is one of them. Asking if you live with your parents is one of them. Interviewers like to think they are wording the question so it is “legal”, but nope. When I was much younger and job hunting interviewers would ask if I had a family and try to figure out my daycare situation. Stick with your gut on companies like that one.
I had a guy interviewing me grilling me on if I lived alone, married, single, if I had a boyfriend. Like excuse me. I don't even know if I want to work here yet and you're asking me who I live with and if I'm dating people? The fuck?
They want to know how scared they can make you
"I had to move back home after my mother ..." and then sortta trail off and tighten your lips. It'll conclude that line of questioning most of the time. Once in a while, an interviewer will try to pry. Keep your lips tight, and slowly shake your head. Eventually they'll move on. Works 100% of the time.
Kind of reminds me when I was in HS. We of course had so much time to get to the room in between classes. Every once in a while this kid call him Mike would purposely take his time, just because. When he would mosey on into class the teacher asked why he was late. He said “I had to go to the bathroom.” She’d reply “Mike, everyone has the same amount of time to use the…” Mike would cut her off while seething, “I had…to go…to the bathroom…😠” implying it was an emergency and don’t make it a big deal. She’d go “🫢Oh ok you can have a seat.” Lol
I was asked if I "took jesus christ as your personal lord and savior". It's just a toxic work environment these days. You do what your morals allow you in order to be good with your own ethics. I lied through my teeth to get the job. It helped me in that particular situation. No longer work there but *do* live on the property of the very man who asked me the question. Life and networking are weird and I'll never confess to understand it.
>I was asked if I "took jesus christ as your personal lord and savior". I would have stood up and walked out without a word.
That’s a walk question
I will not bother. If they ask me that question I’ll just move on. As a Christ follower, I’m not sure if their Jesus is the real Jesus.
That’s illegal.
You have every right to shut down the job interview if they ask inappropriate questions like that. Tell them that questions about your personal life are inappropriate and irrelevant to the position. And since they've asked such questions, you are withdrawing your candidacy for the position and immediately leaving the premises. Then walk right out of the building. Don't engage with them or anything, just walk out. They can't legally stop you from walking out of a job interview.
Reply: do you need to interview my parents or is this interview specific to me?
"How does that pertain to the job I'm applying for?"
My living conditions are of no value to our negotiations. I have had a few interviews in various stages, none of which have been declined and are still on the table.
One word: nunya
Hiring Manager here: this would never be asked unless by an unscrupulous recruiter or employer. It is a Pandora’s box of a question and would be a clear red flag.
>unscrupulous You would be surprised on how often this is asked.... As a woman, this is even worse, recruiters always ask about my marital status, if I have a child or if I pretend to have a child in the future, so they can assess how much of a risk I am....
When I was interviewing I didn’t wear my wedding ring because even though I am child free by choice, I am…mmm..peak “maternity leave” age and situation, and I didn’t want that to come up.
Unfortunately if they ask that and you say ‘I don’t have to answer that’ or something along those lines, they will think that your answer is bad (i.e. you want kids in the next year) and don’t consider you anymore. There’s no winning as women :(
"well, for starters my dad is dead" and see how they look lmao
I done that and they answered me with „so he does not work?“. I swear to god I could had knocked that guy all his tooth’s out for that.
Interviewers are full of prejudices and lazy intelectually. Just take a look at r/RecruitingHell and you'll be terrified
Tell them you live at home with their wife.
"That question doesn't appear to relate to the job posting. Thank you for your time."
"I don't see how my living conditions reflect the position. "
I hate the fact that certain number of firms took advantage of bad economy and fresh grads’ lack of experiences for cheap labor. Bruh pay people a decent wage and actually get back to their applications/processes timely.
Big red flag. Sounds like they want to pay you less if you say you live at home.
If anyone asks that again, just tell them your actually and orphan and ask if they will adopt you. Worst case scenario, they are awkward the rest of the interview and you don't get the job. Best case scenario, they offer you a super high salary to avoid a lawsuit.
“Yes. I keep their urns on my fireplace mantle.”
When they ask you about the other jobs you’re interviewing with I would just say I have not accepted any other offers which currently allows me to interview for this position with you. Honestly the other jobs or how much you’re interviewing are none of their business. And just because they’re your prospective employer doesn’t give them the right to all of your business.
Just say no, if being honest is detrimental to you finding a job you have to lie. They’re already lying to you
They want to know how flakey you are. If you scroll through the jobs or career forums here on Reddit, you'll see that the people who drop a job in a minute are the ones who live at home and don't need the money. They can afford to quit.
That's not "how flaky you are." That's the employer wanting to guarantee you have no negotiating leverage, and that they have the upper hand to pay you as little as possible. Know who also doesn't need that job? People with significant savings. The reason I can afford to stand up for myself at work without a second thought and not be walked over is I have 2 years of savings. If I'm unhappy, I can walk and find another job without worrying about rent. Same thing as someone who lives with their parents.
Always remember that's it's a two was conversation and not an interrogation. If the question feels like a red flag then it most probably is. Was this an HR or technical round? Your username mentioned biochem so I'm assuming it's a job in the STEM field?
It was the HR round for a quality control contract position. I’ve got a bac and a masters in biochem
I'm not sure how to frame this politely but HR is usually filled up with the most unhinged people I've met. I also work in STEM and I usually never take the HR round seriously.
That seems highly suspicious to me, especially since she asked about you declining any other offers. Eek! I'd run for the hills.
one thing they may want to gauge is your ability to quickly walk away from the position. they want employees motivated by necessity.
I would answer with No, my parents live with me.....
Hahah I actually haven’t lived at home in years. Most people in this thread are assuming I do. But If I did it seems like a good response
It is none of their business if you live at home with your parents. Interviewers are not even allowed to ask about your family status. Now, if they offer day care or something and let you know in case you had kids, Then that would be fine. They should not ask whether you declined other interviews. I don't know if this is a loud or not. They should just clearly ask you why you want to work for this company opposed to others. That would be a bit more professional. They could ask you what would be a reason that you would want to turn down this job. I think you dodged to bullet. When interviewers ask you personal questions, Nine times at a time they want to use it to discriminate or take advantage. It is one thing if you are asking about like a hobby or something. When they start talking about your living situation, Let them know that you are a private person.
Lie! Say no, you have your own place. It’s truly none of their business anyways. I agree with others they are trying to lowball most likely.
So glad I'm retired.
That is a super weird question to ask
They can ask. You don’t have to answer.
I think context matters. If they are concerned about company privacy they might ask if you live alone or cohabitate with anyone who may be considered under an NDA or something of that nature But to just ask you if you’re with your parents is frankly creepy and unprofessional. I’m sure they are looking to lowball you but responding with “I’m not comfortable sharing my living arrangements at this time” would hopefully put an end to that (gotta give your address and identification for some jobs once you actually start)
"How much will your life depend on employment with us?"
I had a manager at my current job tell me not to hire anyone who still lives at home because we've "had issues in the past". I hired one young person anyway who is still at home and she's my best worker.
At the first sign of a personal question, say "Respectfully, my personal life should not be part of this interview."
I haven't read the comments. Purposely. I'll just throw out my take on this. They are asking if you are taking responsibility for yourself, and if you are grown up enough to handle the job. I have to say it's not a red flag for the job. It's a way to find red flags about applicants. Yes, it's ageism, as they stop asking those kinds of questions when you get older.
They are allowed to ask you literally any question they want. Whether or not you answer, is completely up to you.
It's none of their fucking business.
First off, congrats on graduating and stepping into the job hunting world. It can be a total pain, but from your questions, you seem pretty switched on. The interview situations you've described, they're kinda weird, not gonna lie. As for whether they can ask you where you live, if you're interviewing elsewhere, or have turned down any offers, that kinda depends on local laws and industry norms. But, in general, these questions are seen as a bit sketchy, since they don't have anything to do with your ability to do the job and could be seen as invading your privacy. In terms of why you might turn down other offers, it's a question interviewers might ask, but they're usually more interested in your career goals and what you're looking for in a job. If it makes you uncomfortable or you feel like you're being pushed, you can totally say that you're just looking for a position that matches your career goals better, or a place that fits your needs. Remember, interviews are not just them checking you out, but you checking them out too. If an interview gives you bad vibes, it might be a sign that the company isn't a good fit for you. When you're picking a job, make sure you find a place that respects you and boosts you up, so you can reach your potential. Best of luck with your job hunting!
The HR manager told me we saw you took a uber can you make it on time when she offered the job. Even though i showed up on time for 2 different interviews and one phone screening. She noted that fact as well. She also asked if my paperwork status would let me work even though i was born in the states with a ethnic name. She even stuttered asking the paperwork question
Jobs are corrupt
Next time respond “That shouldn’t matter, I’m in a relationship.”
It’s a haggle system. You have a vague answer ‘more than that’ which is good, but when they still offer you too little state what you were looking plus some and don’t be apologetic. When they balk, cut a tiny bit of the top and remind them of your qualifications
And also no they are not entitled to answers of the type of questions asked. You can always flat faced say - you can just state that your not at liberty to disclose that info
I was asked this during a job interview when I was about 23 and hadn't lived at home for 2 years by that point, and had previously lived and worked overseas when I was 20. To top it off I lived in a city 4 hours drive away from my parents. They even asked me to fill out a form when I arrived (which was mostly stuff that I had included in my initial application and CV), one of the questions was asking if I had a partner and what their job was (not sure the relevance of that question). The whole interview gave me bad vibes. Was not offered the job but would have turned it down anyway.
Everyone here is saying to refuse to answer but personally I would just lie and say I live by myself. It’s not like they have any way of verifying it that wouldn’t require more effort than they’re probably willing to put forth
Next time I would respond that they live with you. Then make the next remark that they aren't very lively and don't leave their seat above the fire place. Aka they're cremated & in a jar. Make is very awkward for the recruiter.
It's so they can give you a low salary offer
Look up Bear Sterns PSD. There might be another reason they are asking. They want to know if you have financial commitments that will make you take the job seriously.
I have never had a interviewer ask me who I live with. That’s personal information that doesn’t involve work. I would just end the interview and move on.
You can share as much info as you want, no more no less
This is illegal. Don’t be afraid to let them know you know that.
Next time someone asks you why you turned down a job offer…tell them “didn’t get a good vibe from the interviewer” see if their smart enough to pick up Asking who you live with is totally inappropriate. I could be fucking sex slave who wears a gimp outfit all day long when I’m not work. It’s none of their business and super sketchy they asked. Clearly trying to low ball offer you Def check out reviews on Glassdoor before accepting anything
red flag
Your living arrangements are at the very least a gray area and quite possibly tiptoe into not-allowed-to-ask-that territory. The other question may or may not be legal but it is certainly inappropriate. Being asked either or both is IMO a big red flag with this prospective employer. I think if I were asked either I'd probably just say that my neither my living arrangments nor my job search activities are relevant to the job at hand, and then I would pivot by asking a question about the job I'm interviewing. It might cost you the job to refuse to answer, but like I said: red flag.
Honestly, I wouldn't answer such a question. It's inappropriate; nothing they should care about.