Headhunter asked me

[Anonymous]

How many kids I had, and how old were they?
It’s an illegal question that recruiters in companies and hiring managers avoid. Can an exec recruiter ask this?
I answered truthfully btw (I didn’t know how to handle it?!)

[Anonymous]

I'd say childless or adult children.

[Anonymous]

Not going to go into legalities but it is also used to calculate relocation expenses

[Anonymous]

My headhunter once told me about his engagement story, sometimes people just want to talk and establish a connection.
If you are not comfortable just lie, who cares.

[Anonymous]

The question is not illegal. It would be illegal to discriminate based on the information, so most employers don't ask it, to avoid potential issues. If this is a headhunter not tied to an employer, it's a bit of a grey area. Could have just been making small talk.

[Anonymous]

Idk, but if someone is screening out candidates based on having children then I’d rather be truthful and get screened out because it would be hell to work at a place like that.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they're allowed to ask you that op. I wouldn't lie but I would ask "why do you ask?" and call them out on their bs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think they're allowed to ask you that op. I wouldn't lie but I would ask "why do you ask?" and call them out on their bs.

+1 the headhunter does not need to "make conversation" on this topic

[Anonymous]

The headhunter is not hiring that person so they can ask whatever they want...just like I will now...how many kids do you have?

You can of course try not to be friendly with the headhunter if you want...

[Anonymous]

What the heck, there are a lot of dummies on this thread. Of course a headhunter can ask you literally whatever they want. They're not hiring you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many kids I had, and how old were they?
It’s an illegal question that recruiters in companies and hiring managers avoid. Can an exec recruiter ask this?
I answered truthfully btw (I didn’t know how to handle it?!)

They can ask and you don't have to answer. It's that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the heck, there are a lot of dummies on this thread. Of course a headhunter can ask you literally whatever they want. They're not hiring you.

And you may be one of them.

[Anonymous]

It’s not illegal to ask the question. It’s illegal to discriminate based on the answer so most employers won’t ask it so the person can’t come back and sue them.

[Anonymous]

Companies hire external recruiters to ask questions like this.

The external recruiter then decides what resumes to forward

To be honest last few external recruiters I felt with are only against straight white males over 50. They use external recruiters to bring in diversity and younger rising stars

[Anonymous]

Recruiter here: def illegal to ask this before making you an offer. Also illegal to ask about citizenship before making the offer.