What they are really asking

Some interviewers ask this, but it has very little to do with whether you can do the job. In many countries, including the US, employers are advised not to ask it, or aren't allowed to, because the answer can reveal things about your money, your age or your family that shouldn't affect a hiring decision. Rules vary, so check the ones where you live.

When someone does ask, they usually mean something more practical. Will you stay in the area for a while? Is your commute realistic? Could you move if the job needed it? You can answer that real question without saying anything about your home. Stay polite. The interviewer may not know it's a sensitive question, and a friendly answer keeps the interview on track.

A shape that works

Answer the practical worry, not the literal question. Say you'd rather keep it private, or give a short, neutral answer if you're comfortable. Then talk about what matters to them: that you're settled, that the commute works, or that you're flexible about moving. Keep your tone light. A smile helps more than a lecture about employment law.

Model answers

Listen to how each answer is built, then make it yours.

Answer 1: a customer service agent in Chicago who keeps it private
Answer 2: a junior analyst in London who is happy to answer
Answer 3: a technician in Kyoto who turns it toward the job

Check yourself

1Why are employers in many countries advised not to ask this?
2What is the interviewer usually worried about when they ask?
3How does Answer 1 protect privacy and stay positive?

Practice · 3 min

Record the private version in under thirty seconds: decline politely, then answer the practical worry about commute or staying in the area. Then record a second version as if you were happy to answer. Listen back to both and check that your tone stays friendly, not defensive.

Your recording stays on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.