More than half of U.S. adults (53%) say the No. 1 deal-breaker that would deter them from applying for or accepting an offer of employment is inappropriate interview questions, according to the results of the latest American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor survey conducted online by The Harris Poll.

Top Deal Breakers When Applying for or Accepting a Job

Inappropriate interview questions

Unrealistic job or skill requirements

Misrepresenting job duties

Aggressive behavior of recruiter or hiring manager

Not responding to questions about open positions

Poor follow-up by recruiting or hiring manager

No face-to-face contact during hiring process

Other reasons that half of people would refrain from applying for a job or accepting an offer of employment include unrealistic job or skill requirements (51%), misrepresenting job duties (50%), and aggressive behavior of the recruiter or hiring manager (49%).

High-touch human interaction matters to job seekers, according to the latest Workforce Monitor survey. That's consistent with the results of an earlier edition of the ASA Workforce Monitor focused on job hunting. At least three out of 10 adults say they would not apply for or accept a job if the prospective employer fails to respond to questions about open positions (38%), provides poor follow-up by the recruiter or hiring manager (37%), or does not offer any face-to-face contact during the hiring process (30%).

Opinions on potential deal-breakers differ based on gender. Women are more likely than men to express that inappropriate interview questions (56% versus 50%) or aggressive recruiter or hiring manager behavior (52% versus 45%) would discourage them from pursuing employment with an offending company.

"Each touchpoint in the recruitment process vitally matters to job seekers," said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. "In the tightest labor market in modern history, and facing fierce competition for talent, employers cannot afford to make costly mistakes that prevent individuals from applying for employment or accepting job offers."