ThePhilips's Journal: 10 illegal job interview questions

Interesting (and rather old story) on Tech Republic: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=229:

Although HR departments should be aware of questions that are illegal to ask prospective employees, some hiring managers aren't so savvy. Many illegal questions are easy for just about anyone with elementary social graces to avoid, but others might surprise you. In general, you should not ask interviewees about their age, race, national origin, marital or parental status, or disabilities.

List of innocent questions and small talk stuff is in the article. Enlightening read.

Reserves

[stoolpigeon]

I've seen tons of applications that ask if you are currently in the Gaurd/Reserves. Some from big companies. It makes me kind of nuts. It's illegal for them to ask, but they are that blatant about it.
 
On the flip side of it, I now work for what the government considers a religious order and we can ask prospective all kinds of things that are normally out of bounds.