Once upon a time, it was considered a faux pas for interviewers to ask about your family life or political affiliations.  However, as many jobs are now filled through social networking, that is friends setting up other friends, it is infinitely more common to be asked about those or other personal topics during a job interview.

It is illegal to discriminate based on gender, race, national origin, marital status, sexual preference, religious belief, age or disability. Interviewers usually avoid asking questions on those subjects and other personal issues that are not directly work-related, since it opens up the possibility that an applicant, rejected by lack of qualifications, could claim that he or she was discriminated against.

Much as we try not to ask these sorts of questions, they still pop up, especially if they may affect your ability to do your job. A recruiter might ask about your family, for example, if the job in question requires extensive travel or long hours as young families can be burdensome in certain types of jobs. He or she might also ask about your physical health if the job requires heavy lifting, or repetitive physical tasks.

Be careful of the information that you volunteer. Remember that any personal details you give could be used against you, since you opened the door to the question in the first place. So, before the interview, think about the information you don’t mind sharing versus what you would rather not.

If the interview moves into the realms of your personal life, manoeuvre it back to the discussion about the role for which you are applying.  Try and think of a way that you can turn the inadvertent blunder into an asset that will assist you in being employed.
 
It’s possible that you’ve lived in another country and so have a second language.  Tell the interviewer how this may increase your efficiency at work and increase better work relations. But if you are asked something personal, ask some questions of your own such as, "Is this something that's important to your employment decision?"
 
Be polite, and don't get aggressive. Keep in mind that the recruiter may have a valid reason for asking a question. No matter why you're being asked, a nasty response will only serve as a mark against you.

Evaluate the interview as you would a first date. If you are treated poorly or made to feel uncomfortable during an interview, it's a reasonable indication of what you could expect on the job.  But not every interview that went well offers up the reward of a job offer, so keep things in perspective and live to fight another day.

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