If job application asks you to give reasons for leaving your last job, a safe and truthful answer could be that you were offered a better position. “Better” could mean a pay raise, better working hours, better office environment, or newer equipment.

Your Social Security Number (SSN)

The exceptions to this are federal resumes sent for civil service positions. A prospective employer can ask for your Social Security Number in an application - that is normally a requirement for employment. However, putting your SSN on a resume could lead to disaster.

You’ll be sending out many resumes; you won’t know who’ll be reading them. It doesn't cost much money to put a small want ad in newspaper or on an Internet employment site, and a dishonest person can run a fraudulent ad.

If someone knows your SSN, he can apply for credit cards or other important documents, such as duplicate SSN cards, with information you normally provide on a resume. Be alert if someone other than in civil service asks for your SSN.

Information about Health and Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act has changed way businesses in US recruit and hire an employee. Generally, an employer has no legal right to know your health status. The only health-related questions that an employer can ask are job related.

If job description requires that you lift 50 lbs, employer has legal and legitimate right to ask in interview if you can do this. He can also state requirement in his ad. He cannot ask you if you have back problems, diabetes, or have had a heart attack unless job, such as airline pilot, requires perfect health.

Find out your legal rights if you live outside US.

Marital Status

I’ve added marital status because this is another issue that can work against you, particularly if you’re a single parent. I know some people will disagree, but single parents have highest absentee rate in work force.

Companies will try to avoid hiring a single parent if at all possible. However, in US they cannot ask you your marital status or if you have children. Don't volunteer this information on resume.

If asked this question in an interview, proper response could be, "Can you tell me what this has to do with position I’m applying for?" That should end questioning on this issue if interviewer does not want to face a lawsuit.

Once you’re there, as well as answering questions you’ll be given opportunity to ask some, so three days or so before interview, start drawing up a list. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to take a notepad into interview; you can write down topics for your questions on this and refer to it when time comes.

Don't write out questions word for word and then read them because this sounds too stilted. By writing down topics or headings you’ll sound much more natural because you’ll be forced to form questions on spot.

Here are some topics you could ask about:

• What job involves – your interviewer will tell you a little during interview, but you can always ask for more detail • Who you’ll be working with • Any training programs company has in place which might suit you • The prospects for advancement within company • Any special dress requirements • The company's long-term goals • The reason this position is vacant • If company pays competitive wage or above

It's usually not a good idea to emphasize importance of pay at this stage. However, you are entitled to know if you’ll be paid minimum wage or higher for position.