# Most inappropriate questions on a job application **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 6, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028 "2007-04-06T20:24:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/41 "2007-04-08T16:17:29Z")
I heard of someone who just wrote at the top, “I just left the illegal questions blank, I hope that is OK.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/42 "2007-04-08T20:05:12Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] I heard of someone who just wrote at the top, “I just left the illegal questions blank, I hope that is OK.” [/QUOTE] Brilliant! 😃 “If you have not served in any branch of the Armed Forces, state the reason why:” The voices told me not to. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/43 "2007-04-08T20:19:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I filled out a job application in the 80s which asked for “weight” and “attach picture” A subtle means of racism or a method to give Human Resources first dibs on the cute new employees? ---
**Author:** ![mikeargo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@mikeargo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeargo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/44 "2007-04-08T20:28:12Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] I’m currently filling out the background check paperwork for a job application, and came across this gem, at the very end of the MEDICAL questionnaire: “If you have not served in any branch of the Armed Forces, state the reason why:” I still haven’t decided what to put down for a response(I haven’t served, by the way). [/QUOTE] I got nothin’ against them Viet Cong. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/45 "2007-04-08T21:30:30Z")
Not on a job application, but on a form to apply for a house rental. **Eye color?** We didn’t take the house and it remained empty for over a year. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/46 "2007-04-08T21:54:15Z")
I once filled an application that at the end, in the fine print, it stated that by filling out the application I was giving the company permission to do a credit check on me and that it would figure into whether or not they would hire me. I didn’t turn it in. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/47 "2007-04-08T22:16:09Z")
Not necessarily inappropriate, but certainly odd; an application for a local government that asked for the dates of previous jobs, addresses, names of former supervisors, duties performed, and so on … _for every job since entry into the workforce_. This was for a job as a planner; not anything in public safety. I called up the human resources department and asked for clarification. “You mean you want information for every job I have ever had, including things like summer jobs I had when I was in high school?” Yes, they wanted EVERYTHING. ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/48 "2007-04-08T22:17:00Z")
My favorite is from the Staples application: How much did you steal from your last employer? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/49 "2007-04-08T22:32:26Z")
[QUOTE=gfloyd] My favorite is from the Staples application: How much did you steal from your last employer? [/QUOTE] “As much as I could without being noticed” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/50 "2007-04-08T22:54:05Z")
[QUOTE=gfloyd] My favorite is from the Staples application: How much did you steal from your last employer? [/QUOTE] Clearly not enough, if I’m still looking to work at Staples. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/51 "2007-04-08T22:56:40Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] Not on a job application, but on a form to apply for a house rental. **Eye color?** We didn’t take the house and it remained empty for over a year. [/QUOTE] Could that be a race thing? My college housing application asked for a photograph: turned out it was to determine race without stating as such (in the political climate at the time, it was probably to make sure no minorities were homeless). ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/52 "2007-04-09T04:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Not necessarily inappropriate, but certainly odd; an application for a local government that asked for the dates of previous jobs, addresses, names of former supervisors, duties performed, and so on … _for every job since entry into the workforce_. [/QUOTE] I had the same thing happen to me when applying for a PA State job. I’m supposed to remember the name of my McDonald’s supervisor from when I was fifteen? Odder still was the fact that they only gave you enough space to fill in information for _three jobs_! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/53 "2007-04-09T05:02:25Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Could that be a race thing? My college housing application asked for a photograph: turned out it was to determine race without stating as such (in the political climate at the time, it was probably to make sure no minorities were homeless). [/QUOTE] A lot of companies just use generic forms without bothering to modify the information requested. Still, just to be safe, you could always answer that on “blue” regardless and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/54 "2007-04-09T13:13:46Z")
You could always say that you performed your millitary service in a previous life. Or, you wanted to join the millitary but they wouldn’t promise to let you “Nuke” anything. **Little Nemo** , I like your answers. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/55 "2007-04-09T15:16:27Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] They weren’t willing to look past my youthful membership in _GLBT Vegans for Allah_, my summer job as Cindy Sheehan’s road manager, my work with my local chapter of _Friends & Supporters of Timothy McVeigh_ (and I keep telling them it’s the [gay one](http://www.wiredstrategies.com/mcveigh.htm), not the mean one!), or the fact I’m an Aquarius. [/QUOTE] Ohmigosh…you’re an Aquarius? Whoa. Whoa. I just don’t know how to deal with that. Give me some time… ---
**Author:** ![Alistair\_McCello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Alistair\_McCello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alistair_McCello)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/56 "2007-04-09T15:36:24Z")
> [@gfloyd](#): > > My favorite is from the Staples application: How much did you steal from your last employer? I remember that question! Both my brother and I applied at Staples while in high school and I recall that after filling out that application he said that he had never felt like such a square before. The questions were phrased in such a bizzare manner. I don’t recall it exactly so I am paraphrasing here, but this was my favorite question: Everyone has tried drugs at one time or another, when was the last time you got high? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/57 "2007-04-09T15:49:59Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] “If you have not served in any branch of the Armed Forces, state the reason why:” I still haven’t decided what to put down for a response(I haven’t served, by the way). [/QUOTE] “They asked. I told.” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/58 "2007-04-09T16:33:48Z")
> [@](#): > > How much did you steal from your last employer? Depends. You want me to adjust for inflation? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/59 "2007-04-09T17:08:25Z")
[QUOTE=Alistair McCello] Everyone has tried drugs at one time or another, when was the last time you got high? [/QUOTE] “I don’t think I want to work for someone with a history of illegal drug use.” ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028/60 "2007-04-09T18:24:38Z")
> [@Alistair McCello](#): > > Everyone has tried drugs at one time or another, when was the last time you got high? Correct response: “What time is it?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-inappropriate-questions-on-a-job-application/399028.md?page=4)