Interviewing EAs, PAs, Private PAs, Chief of Staff: The Questions You Should Never Ask

Questions to Avoid:

• "What is your religion?"
• "Are you planning to start a family?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: Imagine asking someone about their plans to start a family, only to see their face tighten in discomfort. Not only is this intrusive, but it’s also irrelevant to their ability to do the job. Whether someone is planning to have kids or what their religious beliefs are should have no bearing on their qualifications as a PA.

Stick to the Script: Keep your questions centred on their professional background. For example, instead of diving into their personal life, ask, “How do you handle balancing personal commitments with the demands of a busy work schedule?”

Questions to Avoid:

• "How old are you?"
• "When did you graduate?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: Asking about age is like opening Pandora’s box—it can lead to age discrimination claims faster than you can say “birthday cake.” Whether they’re fresh out of college or have years of experience under their belt, what matters is their ability to perform the tasks required.

Stick to the Script: Focus on their experience and skills instead. Try, “Can you walk me through your professional journey so far?” instead of probing into their graduation date.

Questions to Avoid:

• "Do you have any health issues?"
• "Do you have any disabilities?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: Asking someone about their health or disabilities is a quick way to make them feel uncomfortable and could be viewed as discriminatory. The key is to understand if they can perform the job, not to pry into their medical history.

Stick to the Script: If necessary, you can ask, “Are you able to perform the essential functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation?” This way, you’re ensuring they can do the job without crossing any boundaries and making them feel that they will be accommodated for in any necessary ways.

Questions to Avoid:

• "Who did you vote for?"
• "What are your thoughts on the current government?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: In today’s polarized world, discussing politics can be a minefield. These questions are irrelevant to the job and could create unnecessary tension or bias in the interview process.

Stick to the Script: Keep things neutral and job-focused. Instead of political views, consider asking, “How do you handle working in environments with diverse perspectives?”

Questions to Avoid:

• "What is your sexual orientation?"
• "How do you identify?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: These questions are not just inappropriate; they are completely irrelevant to the candidate’s ability to perform the role. Asking about someone’s gender or sexual orientation can create an uncomfortable and hostile interview environment.

Stick to the Script: Focus on their professional identity, not their personal one. Try asking, “Can you tell me about a time you successfully collaborated with a diverse team?”

Questions to Avoid:

• "Where are you from originally?"
• "What is your ethnicity?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: While curiosity might drive you to ask about someone’s cultural background, these questions can lead to assumptions or even discrimination. What matters is their experience, not where they or their family come from.

Stick to the Script: Instead, ask, “How has your background influenced your approach to your work?” This allows them to share what they’re comfortable with while keeping the conversation relevant.

Questions to Avoid:

• "Have you ever been arrested?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: Asking about arrests rather than convictions can be legally tricky and might not be allowed in some jurisdictions. It’s crucial to focus on whether there’s anything in their background that directly impacts their ability to perform the job.

Stick to the Script: If you need to address this, say, “This role may require a background check. Is there anything that would affect your eligibility for this position?”

Questions to Avoid:

• "Can I have your social media handles?"
• "What do you post online?"

Why It’s Off-Limits: Asking for social media handles or about someone’s online presence can feel like an invasion of privacy. Unless the job specifically requires managing social media accounts, this line of questioning is unnecessary.

Stick to the Script: Focus on their professional qualifications. If relevant, you could ask, “Can you share any professional work or portfolios that are available online?”