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To: doctora
I am a lawyer for the military that handles discrimination cases and adverse action appeals. You need to be very careful with your questions. If you ask a pattern of questions that points toward discrimination of a person based on race, sex, age (over 40), national origin, disability, color, religion (or lack of), and sexual preference you could be sued an subject to big time damages.

Don't ask obvious questions that focus on any of the person's "protected class." For example, you must not ask a young woman if she is planning to get pregnant or have a family anytime soon. Don't ask a middle aged person when they are planning to retire. Never ask a question that relates to race or ethnicity, like "Is you last name Spanish or Italian." Don't ask if they go to church, synagogue or mosque or where they go to church, etc.
As far as political persuasion, technically that is not a "protected class." However, a political question may somehow fall into one of the other classes.

I think you need to craft questions that ask about background, education, extracurricular activities, etc. that would elicit answers that might point to what kind of person he/she really is. A person might tell you that he was president of his fraternity in college, which might indicate a more conservative person. The person might tell you he volunteered for Catholic Charities, etc. If they have served in the military there is a good chance they are conservative or at least not liberal. If they worked for the peace corps or job corps, look out.

I have interview many persons for jobs and been interviewed. Ask them hypothetical questions designed to find out how they operate under stress. Also, what are their expectations about the job. If they demand a multitude of job benefits or rights, they may be a liberal.

Of course, you want someone that works hard, is proud of their work and loyal to their employer.
55 posted on 02/01/2006 6:10:20 PM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia

Great info, thanks George.


59 posted on 02/01/2006 6:12:56 PM PST by doctora
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia

Although my work is lower on the intellectual spectrum, I am my own boss and I've hired and fired a bunch of folk. What determines a good employee (construction) is attitude and ability, and lacking ability, the confidence to try. The people in this area of the country (U.P. Michigan) are proud of their roots; many of us are only third-generation Americans. Since I have Finnish roots(Soumalianen) I have fun with the people who interview who have Finn last names. I usually ask them, "Ojala, that's French, isn't it?" and they get visibly upset. So far, nobody has taken a swing at me. When I find one that does, I think I'll make him a supervisor.


73 posted on 02/01/2006 7:23:57 PM PST by Simo Hayha (I miss the old days, when a man would build a skyscraper just to keep from being hit with a shovel.)
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