[James Gutierrez]

Woman shocked by HR’s 'illegal' interview question​

In a Reddit post that’s gained widespread attention, a woman recounted an unsettling experience during a final-round job interview for a senior developer position at a mid-sized software company. Everything had gone smoothly—from the technical assessment to the salary discussion—until the HR director ended the interview with a highly inappropriate and illegal question.

The recruiter asked whether she planned to have children in the near future, a query that left the candidate shocked and uncomfortable.

Image source: Dylan Gillis / Unsplash

After asking the HR director to repeat the question, hoping she had misheard, the woman was stunned when the recruiter not only reiterated but justified it as part of 'team planning'. Remaining composed, the woman declined to answer, citing the question’s inappropriateness and illegality in many hiring contexts.

Her response reportedly surprised the HR director. This incident has sparked online debate about the persistence of discriminatory practices in recruitment.

 

[Iggydi]

Now if she was a fast thinking person she could have said "Are you propositioning me?" That would have put the interviewer on the spot. Would they have said that to a man? I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nichola]

When I went for a secretarial job at the headquarters of the Anglican church, I was asked 'was I happily married?' and 'What did my husband think of me going out to work?' And, as an after thought, they asked if I was a committed Christian. This was in 1981. Doesn't sound as if things have changed much in some places.