Part of interviews are about seeing if you can mesh with the team and the boss. It’s not about friendship, but determining if you fit for amicability. They’re going to have to work with you as a boss or coworker. It’s much better for them personally to get along with you somewhat.
In each of their questions there’s a socially acceptable way to politely say “hey, this is a topic I’d prefer to not discuss” without setting a hard boundary and asserting that you know your rights. Going directly to the hard boundary is seen as escalation especially in response to questions meant to try to get to know a bit about you. And people who go directly to hard boundaries in response to small talk in an interview become employees/coworkers you have to walk on eggshells around lest you find yourself in regular chats with HR/their union steward.
Part of interviews are about seeing if you can mesh with the team and the boss. It’s not about friendship, but determining if you fit for amicability. They’re going to have to work with you as a boss or coworker. It’s much better for them personally to get along with you somewhat.
In each of their questions there’s a socially acceptable way to politely say “hey, this is a topic I’d prefer to not discuss” without setting a hard boundary and asserting that you know your rights. Going directly to the hard boundary is seen as escalation especially in response to questions meant to try to get to know a bit about you. And people who go directly to hard boundaries in response to small talk in an interview become employees/coworkers you have to walk on eggshells around lest you find yourself in regular chats with HR/their union steward.