Job candidate calls out interviewer for asking 'the strangest' question: 'The entire positive vibe of the interview immediately evaporated'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Oct 29, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

There are some things you absolutely cannot ask during a job interview, and if you are ever asked them, that is definitely not a place you should start working at. 

These rules are there for the benefit of the candidate, but they also keep an employer mindful of treating everyone equally. For example, did you know that an interviewer is forbidden by law to ask you how old you are, what language you speak at home, or if you plan to start a family soon? If not, I'm glad that you're now enlightened, because these rules can be very important. It can keep a potential employer from thinking things like, "Oh, she's too old to do this job," or "I hope this guy isn't a father, because he's going to need to leave early all the time to help out with the kids." Nope, you cannot openly consider these things during the hiring process, and that makes the hiring process more equitable for everybody involved. 

While interviewing for a senior role at a software company, this job candidate was stunned by a bizarre question asked by the interviewer. At least this person stopped in their tracks and called out the interviewer for thinking it was appropriate to ask such a question, adding that she seemed surprised that they wouldn't answer. This is very basic stuff, and anyone in a capacity to hire and fire should be well aware of the consequences of asking the wrong questions during interviews. Yikes! Let's hope she learned her lesson, and kudos to this person for refusing to settle and take a job that was a waving red flag. 

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  • 01
    I had a final interview with a mid-sized software company yesterday for a senior developer position.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 02
    The technical assessment and management interviews went incredibly well, and the salary range matched what I was looking for.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 03
    As we were wrapping up, the HR director said, "Just one last question before we finish up..." Then she hit me with: "Could you tell me if you're planning to have
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 04
    children in the next few years?" I was completely caught off guard. After an awkward pause, I asked her to repeat the question, thinking I must have
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 05
    misheard. Nope - she actually doubled down and said, "We just want to know about your family planning situation for our team planning purposes."
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 06
    I've been through dozens of interviews in my career, but this was a first. I politely told her that I wasn't comfortable answering that question as it's not legally appropriate
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 07
    for hiring decisions. She seemed genuinely surprised I called her out on it. The entire positive vibe of the interview immediately evaporated. I
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 08
    thanked her for her time but mentioned that I had concerns about a company culture where such questions were considered acceptable.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 09
    On my drive home, I was still in disbelief. Has anyone else encountered something like this in tech interviews recently? I'm not sure if I should report this or just
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 10
    move on to other opportunities.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 11
    nthmonkey You should call a lawyer immediately. If you don't get the job, you should sue them for discrimination. It is absolutely an out of bounds question and they open themselves to serious civil liability in asking it. You can be the agent of that liability.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 12
    pekka.taipale Is there a recording of the interview, or will it end up in disputing that anything like this was ever said?
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 13
    Woman in suit jacket and white shirt points at open notebook on desk with laptop, man in suit jacket holds the open notebook
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 14
    killroy42 But first reply that you're planning on around one million children per year for the next ten years or so, but haven't thought much about it beyond that.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 15
    joelrondeau_ I have a stock answer for questions like this one: "Having been through my company's interview training with our legal department, this question is on the list that we
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 16
    would not be allowed to ask. Would you like to ask a different question?" This is minimally threatening and gives them an opportunity to gracefully avoid the question.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 17
    When my company set up interview training, I assumed it was to help us be better interviewers. During class I discovered it was all about avoiding lawsuits.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 18
    gjephotography Not sure, but could they be exempt from not being allowed to ask that due to company size? Like, FMLA doesn't apply to small companies, or even small offices of large companies.
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 19
    Is that really an illegal question if there are only 10 employees of the company? No info given on company size...
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 20
    Man in suit holds pen to notebook and looks at woman in suit who is typing on laptop in front of brightly lit windows
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 21
    spenceback Must be nice to be able to walk from an interview within your target salary range. Just say no and take the job. W
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 22
    nicoleloraun WHOA! I'm an HR Manager and in my entire career I have never had someone ask that to a candidate. It usually stops at "do you have any vacations planned in the next few months?"
    via @juwonthetechie
  • 23
    angelasmange I attended an interview a week from giving birth (and a second interview two days before giving birth) and they still didn't ask because they knew it was illegal.
    via @juwonthetechie

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