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Interviewing

Background checks: Weigh convictions, not arrests

01/01/2004

Q. We’re going back and forth on this question: On an employment application, can we legally ask about an applicant’s prior conviction record or arrest record? —T.F., Nevada

Hiring temps onto your permanent staff? Check their backgrounds

12/01/2003
Quick quiz: What does your temp agency contract say about performing background checks? Is it your duty? Is it theirs? Too many employers don’t know the answer. They simply assume a …

4 ways to find out if that job applicant is conning you

12/01/2003
Great résumés are a dime a dozen. That’s why smart interviewers work hard to smoke out résumé lies and exaggerations. Here are four common fraud targets you should zero in on.

5 ways to legally ask tricky interview questions

12/01/2003
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Job applications: what to include, what to leave out

12/01/2003
Issue: Done right, your job application is a great tool to collect applicant information and communicate key data about your organization. Risk: Unnecessary questions can run you afoul of federal …

Weed out applicants with ‘silver bullet’ interview question

09/01/2003
Issue: Interviewers often have one pet question they use to test an applicant’s quality.
Benefit: The right question can separate the contenders from the pretenders …

O-V-E-R-Q-U-A-L-I-F-I-E-D can spell ‘lawsuit’

09/01/2003
Issue: With the job market flooded with experienced and skilled people, the temptation rises for hiring managers to use “overqualified” as a weeding-out method.
Risk: Courts could view your use …

Anyone can challenge medical inquiries, not just disabled workers

03/01/2003
Don’t let your guard down when interviewing someone who doesn’t appear to suffer from a disability. If you ask an illegal question, anyone can hit you with …

Bias claim goes nowhere unless minority status was clear

09/01/2002
When Steven Lubetsky applied for an analyst job, he aced the interview and several competence tests. The company offered him the job pending a credit check. Lubetsky explained that he was …

Job descriptions: Make ’em lawsuit-proof

08/01/2002
Job descriptions are among the first items that courts examine to determine the legitimacy of a discrimination charge. You can use them as part of a defense in court only if …