Imagine you’re at a job interview, fully prepared and qualified, and then the recruiter asks: “How many children do you have?” Kamila Violanda Bredbjerg, a 38-year-old professional with over a decade of experience, faced exactly that – a question irrelevant to the job but devastating to her chances. After 40 minutes of interview, the recruiter dropped the bombshell. Four kids? Wow, that’s a lot! She immediately felt her chances slipping away. Despite being ready and qualified, the question about her children cast a shadow over the interview. Kamila is not alone – studies show that one in five women get asked about their plans for children during job interviews, while only 5% of men face the same. This is blatant discrimination, experts say, as equality laws clearly state that questions about children’s age are irrelevant and must not influence candidate evaluation. Recruiters often assume women with children can’t perform the job, a harmful and outdated stereotype. Kamila shared her experience on LinkedIn and received support, but also a rejection letter. Employers need to understand that private life is off-limits in interviews, and women should not endure such discrimination. Having children does NOT make you less capable! So, what do you think about these questions in job interviews? Got a story? Drop a comment and let’s see how many of us have been through this!
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