In an interview, what questions do I not have to answer?

Many questions are prohibited by law. Most interviewers should not ask questions such as: What is your religion? What political party are you affiliated with? Are you married? What debts do you have? What is your sexual orientation? Do you drink? What is your ethnic background? Do you have health problems? How old are you? Do you have a physical disability? How many children do you have? Are you planning to have children? You cannot be asked about your credit history or credit rating if they do not relate to the job in question. There are situations where some of these questions can be asked. For example, if you are applying for a firefighter's position, there are minimum and maximum age limitations that are occupational requirements so the interviewer can ask you if you meet the requirement. You can be asked whether you are legally eligible to work in the United States. You can be asked questions regarding high school and college education and equivalent experience if they are relevant to the job you are interested in. If you are concerned about answering a question that is not job related, tell the interviewer in a professional manner you do not feel comfortable answering the question.

Is it true that companies cannot say anything bad about a former employee?

Most companies rarely give information in writing about a former employee other than job titles and dates of employment. You should know that reference checks can be done without your knowledge by doing a "social security check" to determine where you have worked and then calling each employer for a reference. A prospective employer can see if you left significant places of employment off your resume. There is nothing to prohibit a company from giving a bad reference in a personal interview. Only provide references when asked. If you expect a bad reference, bring this matter up during the job interview so the issue can be addressed up front.

I arrived at an interview and found it was a group interview. Does anything good come out of such an interview?

In some companies a group interview is used to provide job related information and expectations to a number of prospective employees at one time with the hope that candidates not interested in the job will withdraw and save the employer time in interviewing. A group interview generally lasts about an hour and during this time you will find out about the company and the positions available. This is a screening interview. If you are interested in the job, you may then get a one-on-one interview which is structured. The interviewer will ask you questions about your experience and skills as they relate to the specifications of the "ideal candidate" for the job. For some positions, there are multiple interviews in which you meet with individuals at the company so they can determine how you would perform the job in relation to the job requirements. After the interviews are completed, the interviewers discuss your qualifications for the job. You may then be invited to a final interview with the manager where the questions are more limited and include specific information about the job.

What are some tips in preparing for a job interview?

Never go to an interview unprepared. You should gather information about the company and the position. This information is easy to obtain since many companies have a web page. If the company is a publicly traded company, there is a lot of information available. You should be ready to discuss the items on your resume and how they are targeted toward the job you are seeking. Study the position so that you are able to answer specific questions about the skills you have top do the job better than other candidates. Rehearse your answers to questions you expect to be asked. At the interview, show that you want the job-be positive. Listen and pay attention to the questions. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Be prepared to answer questions such as: why should we hire you? What do you look for in a job? How would your friends describe you? Why do you want to work for us? What are your strong points? How would you describe yourself? What are your career goals? How long do you think it would take for you to make a meaningful contribution to the company? Your objective is to make a good impression so that you will be invited back to a second interview.

How do I deal with the question "Do you have any questions?" at the end of the interview?

This is an opportunity to show you prepared well for the interview. You can ask questions about the company's direction and industry trends. You can highlight your strengths as they relate to the position and the company. You can ask a question about when the decision will be made regarding the hiring. At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer by name. Don't look at your watch, don't let your discouragement show, don't be too serious and don't bring up salary and benefits. Throughout the interview, you need to show the interviewer(s) you are the person they want.