You CANNOT
ask questions about an applicant's
race, religion, sex, marital status,
or national origin, or questions
that might prompt answers regarding these issues.
For
example:
"How
do you spend your free time?" might prompt an applicant to
say she's involved in activities at her daughter's preschool.
If she does not get the job she could later claim that she wasn't
hired because she has a small child.
Also: Americans
with Disabilities Act guidelines prevent
you from asking about time missed from work due to illness, use
of sick leave, or history of workers' compensation claims.