Eight out of 10 managers have no training in how to interview staff, prior to recruiting.

According to research from interview skills website Recruitsure.com, 34% of job applicants have been asked an illegal question over the past year, putting more than a third of employers at risk of discrimination claims.

Joe McDermott, CEO of RecruitSure.com, believes that the findings demonstrate how employers' interview skills are being neglected: "When you consider how important it is to hire the right people these are astonishing statistics. By unwittingly asking illegal questions such as a candidate's age or about their beliefs, race or sexuality, employers are putting themselves in a very difficult situation, which could result in legal action being taken against them.

"It's vital that employers invest in interview skills training - after all, a company's biggest asset is its employees."