My interviewer asked me probey about my family life, if I had any friends, and how many Instagram followers I have (even though this has 0 bearing on my job). Was this appropriate?

 

No, your interviewer's questions about your family life, friends, and Instagram followers were not appropriate. In most cases, such questions are considered inappropriate and potentially discriminatory during a job interview for several reasons:

Irrelevance to the job: These questions have no bearing on your ability to perform the job you are applying for. An employer should focus on your skills, experience, and qualifications.

Privacy concerns: Your personal life, including family, friends, and social media activity, is private and should not be the subject of job interview questions.

Potential for discrimination: Questions about family life or social media activity can be discriminatory based on factors like your race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

Focus on irrelevant metrics: The number of Instagram followers does not reflect your professional abilities or potential, and focusing on such metrics is unprofessional and potentially biased.

While some casual small talk during an interview is normal, the questions you mentioned are too personal and go beyond polite conversation. You have the right to feel uncomfortable and raise concerns about this experience.

Here are some things you can do:

• Politely refuse to answer: You have the right to decline to answer questions that you feel are inappropriate. You can politely say something like, "I'm not comfortable answering that question. I believe my skills and experience are more relevant to this position."
• Report the experience: You can report the interviewer's behavior to the company's human resources department or to an external organization that works on discrimination in the workplace.
• Consider the company culture: This incident might be a red flag about the company's culture and working environment. You may want to reconsider your interest in the position or the company altogether.

Remember, you have the right to a fair and professional interview process. You should be evaluated based on your qualifications and potential, not on your personal life or irrelevant metrics.