There are prohibited questions in a Canadian job interview for newcomers that employers can’t ask. Usually, when new immigrants arrive in Canada, they are yet to find a job. Moreover, this makes them vulnerable to a lot of unwanted situations. One of these situations could be facing uncomfortable interviews with Canadian employers. However, if newcomers are well aware of their rights and the prohibited questions that no Canadian employer can ask them, they will be able to handle the interviews better.
Besides this, at some point, if they feel like switching to a new job, they could find a better employer. It is essential also to be aware that each province or territory consists of an office that supervises legal matters related to labor and employment. The employers must comply with the Canada Human Rights Act.
Canadian employers must not discriminate
The Canada Human Rights Act doesn’t permit anyone to discriminate against people on any of the following factors:
- Place of origin;
- Ethnic origin;
- Sexual orientation;
- Marital status;
- Family status;
- Financial status;
- Religion;
- Disability;
- Race
The first step during your job search to avoid being a victim of discrimination is to exclude any personal details on your CV. This means you must not include your marital status, age, photograph, and living arrangement within your CV. Typically, Canadian employers are subject to interviewing candidates solely based on their educational qualifications and work experience.
Furthermore, in any job interview, the employers are supposed to ask only questions related to the job. The Ontario Human Rights Commission believes that the firms or organizations conducting interviews must prepare a set of questions and the expected answers. They must do so even before they begin the interviews so that they can rank the candidates and also avoid discrimination.
Prohibited questions in a Canadian job interview for newcomers
The Canada Human Resources Commission has formulated certain questions that an employer must not ask a candidate. However, it provides insights into how employers can still derive relevant details from the candidate.
Questions related to Citizenship
An employer in Canada doesn’t have the authority to question a newcomer about Canadian Citizenship. Additionally, they must not ask them about their birth or primary language. However, they do have the right to know whether you have legal authority to work in Canada as a newcomer. They can also ask you questions about your proficiency in a second language apart from the primary language in which you are being interviewed.
Health
Canadian employers must not question you regarding your health, particularly your weight or height. Disability questions are a complete no on the part of the employers. They are not supposed to question a newcomer regarding their mental or physical disabilities. Moreover, it is their responsibility to accommodate the candidate so that he or she doesn’t have to undergo any disadvantage during the interview process. However, they can simply lay out the duties they will need to perform during their tenure. Also, they might ask the candidate whether they will be able to perform the duties and how they would carry out the role and other duties.
Age
Employers in a Canadian job interview don’t have the right to ask questions related to a candidate’s age or date of birth. In several countries, such details on a CV are far more regular. However, these can be avoided to prevent any biased behavior. However, employers have the right to know if they are in their legal age to work in the country. They might simply ask the candidate if their age group is between 18 and 64.
Family or Marital Status
An interview must not include questions related to a candidate’s marital status, with whom they are currently living, whether they have a child, or anything about childcare. Also, these types of questions are a sign of discrimination. They could fall under the category of sexual orientation or gender-based discrimination.
The employers must only care about whether the person in question can contribute the required number of hours for the assigned work. However, newcomers must know they don’t need to discuss anything related to their family responsibilities or regulations. The only thing they are answerable for is whether they can be available to work.
Even in a situation when one is pregnant, no one can deny them a job on such a basis. However, they will only have to showcase that they’re most eligible for the job position. If, in a given situation, they happen to disclose their pregnancy, they have the right to continue their job. This means that the employer can’t just fire the candidate on the grounds of pregnancy.
Questions concerning your religion
An eligible Canadian employer doesn’t have the authority to question you regarding your faith or religion. They can’t ask you if you will be required to take off to observe religious practices. However, they can ask you if you would be available at work at a particular time or day of the week. Also, you must not worry about explaining the reason why you will not be available.
Tackling illicit questions
As a candidate in a job interview in Canada, you have all the right to refuse to answer an illicit question. Monster.ca claims that a candidate can refuse a question by stating they aren’t comfortable answering a given question. They can even ask the interviewer about the question’s relevance to their job role. A majority of employers in such a situation will step back by diverting the question. However, this can create stress in an interview, and you might not get the job.
Monster suggests that it is better to avoid the rigid path and simply choose to deflect in such a situation. An interview might ask you questions related to your nationality, and you could state an example of an international experience. This way, you will have an edge over other candidates.
Looking for information on Canadian Immigration? Get all your doubts clarified with our Make Home Canada expert guides through their years of knowledge in this field. Email us your queries at [email protected].
