I have been recruiting for over twelve years. In my relaxed, conversational style of interviewing, many times people reveal a side of themselves that may not come out in a more formal setting. (Hey, wasn't that the premise of late night talk shows?)

Some time ago, while interviewing a young (am I allowed to say that?) fellow in New York for a software sales position, he excitedly told me of his childhood days in Paris. As we discovered together, his father had worked in the same Paris office of an American company as my husband, Donald. Even though he was just a kid, he remembered Don very well and was delighted to make that connection.

But, the question I asked him to elicit that fun information was actually taboo.

I asked him, "So, tell me, where were you born and raised?" While the question itself was not part of any job qualification, it was asked more as a natural part of our conversation.

Confusion and Clarification

There is a lot of confusion for most hiring managers about what you can and can't ask in an interview. Add to that the fact that many interviews (and not just mine) can get very conversational.

So, in an effort to get some clarification around what you can and can't ask, I am going to point you to two great resources.

1. Four Questions You Can't Ask Newsletter

   Can you believe there's ANOTHER energetic, 5'2" redhead out there who runs her own business, has the same birthday (day and year!) as I and writes a monthly newsletter? Well, there is! Marijo McCarthy is the principal of Widett and McCarthy, PC in Newton, Massachusetts, a law firm specializing in the unique issues of small businesses. Last month, Marijo wrote a newsletter to her clients that lists four questions that you cannot ask in an interview. Thank you so much, Marijo. Follow this link to Marijo's newsletter.

2. MCAD (What's THAT, you ask? Another governmental acronym? You bet!)

   In Marijo's newsletter is this link to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. As its name suggests, this is the agency that monitors and generally protects us against discrimination. This is important. In it is the allowed and not allowed questions on Age, National Origin and Ancestry, Handicaps, Race, Gender and many, many more categories that you probably weren't aware of. Follow this link for the list.

   (If you have fewer than six employees you are not subject to the Massachusetts law that guarantees no person be discriminated against. Although that shouldn't mean that you ignore these rules either, of course.)

If your business is not located in a state that has both a Super Bowl AND World Series championship team, don't despair — just move here! If you can't move here, however, here's what I will do for you. Respond to this newsletter and I will be happy to find the appropriate agency in your state where you can find the answers to what you can and can't ask in an interview. I just want to keep you out of trouble!