This Weeks Events (July 30-August 3)

Click on the calendar to view this weeks events (workshops, hiring events, jobs fairs, etc.) at the Larimer County Workforce Center.

Employers in Larimer County

Here are two resources available to job seekers to find lists of local employers in the region.

The Larimer County Workforce Center Website
http://www.larimerworkforce.org

Step 1: Click on Search for Jobs under the Job Seeker tab at the top of the homepage.
Step 2: At the bottom of the Search for Jobs page click on the Industry Specific link, this will give you an entire page of local and statewide employers with links to their websites and job lines.

This employer list includes employers in government, education, hospital, and wholesale/retail fields as well as youth employers, local newspapers as well as a variety of other local major employers.


Colorado LMI Gateway
http://www.coworkforce.com/lmigateway

Step 1: Click on Job Seekers.
Step 2: Click on Job Seeker Services.
Step 3: Click on Employers.
Step 4: Click on A County.
Step 5: Click on Larimer County on the map.
Step 6: Select the criteria you are searching for. You can pick the specific industry you are interested in as well as the size of the company you are interested in. You have to select at least one search criteria. After you pick your search criteria click on Search.

This employer list includes employers that match your search criteria. The list includes the employer’s name, contact information, address, phone number, website if available, a brief description of the business, and how many people are employed at the company.

This Weeks Events (July 23-July 27)

Click on the calendar to view this weeks events (workshops, hiring events, jobs fairs, etc.) at the Larimer County Workforce Center.

Managing Inappropriate Interview Questions

Both federal and state laws prohibit employers from asking inappropriate and illegal questions during an interview. All questions should be job-related and not used to find out personal information. In general, you should never be asked questions about your race, gender, religion, marital status, age, disabilities, ethnic background, country of origin, sexual preferences or age.

If you are asked an inappropriate and/or illegal question during an interview you have several options on how manage the situation.

1. You can answer the question.

Answer the question. For example, if you are asked whether you are a United State citizen, reply that you are authorized to work in the U.S., which is a question the employer can ask you and which is appropriate to answer.

2. You can try to change the topic of conversation and avoid the question.

Changing the topic can be tricky; however, with some smooth talking, the inappropriate question can be avoided and hopefully the interviewer will move on to the next question.

3. Refuse to answer the question.

Refusing to answer the question may cost you the job offer, but consider whether or not you want to work for a company that asks inappropriate and/or illegal questions during their hiring process. While the majority of companies know which questions are legal and illegal, there are some companies that might not know the difference and refusing to answer the question may help to educate the company.

If you believe that the questions were discriminatory, you always have the right to file a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It’s important to note that the discrimination may not have been deliberate. In many cases, interviewers are unaware of the law. Even though illegal questions were asked, it may not have been the intent of the interviewer or the company to discriminate.

To file a charge, contact your local EEOC office: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/howtofil.html

This Weeks Events (July 16-July 20)

Click on the calendar to view this weeks events (workshops, hiring events, jobs fairs, etc.) at the Larimer County Workforce Center.

This Weeks Events (July 9-13)

Click on the calendar to view this weeks events (workshops, hiring events, jobs fairs, etc.) at the Larimer County Workforce Center.

Inappropriate Interview Questions

Questions Employers Cannot Ask Candidates During An Interview

Have you ever been in an interview and wondered if there were questions an employer couldn’t ask? Here is a list of questions employers are not permitted by law to inquire about in an interview.

• What is your age? What is your date of birth? When did you graduate from high school?
• What is your race, color, religion, or national origin?
• Were you born in the U.S.?
• What country are your parents from?
• Is English your primary language?
• Are you an U.S. citizen?
• Do you have any disabilities of any kind?
• Does anyone in your family have a disability for which you have to provide care?
• Have you ever been treated by a psychologist or a psychiatrist?
• Are you taking any prescription medications?
• Have you ever been treated for drug addiction or alcoholism?
• Are you married, single, or divorced?
• How many children do you have? Who's going to care for them while you're at work?
• Are you pregnant? How long do you plan to take off with the baby?
• When do you plan to start a family?
• Do you have your own car?
• Do you have an arrest record? (But, in some states, you can be asked about criminal convictions.)
• Have you ever sued a former employer?
• Are you a union member? What is your stance on union membership?
• How many sick days did you take off work last year?
• Do you observe the Sabbath or any days that would interfere with this job schedule?
• Have you ever filed a workers' compensation claim?
• Did you receive anything other than an honorable discharge from the military?
• Do you own your own home?
• What is your credit history or credit score?

For further information about the rights of candidates and employees visit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website at: http://www.eeoc.gov/.

Next weeks blog will discuss how to handle this questions if you are asked them in an interview.