How to handle irrelevant questions about high school during an interview for a software engineering role?

I am interviewing for a senior software engineer role, American owned company based in EU, and the company informed me they use a mix of top-down and bottom-up interview approaches. However, they mentioned they would ask questions about my high school years, which I find both irrelevant and intrusive. For context: I am 41 years old with 12 years of professional programming experience, which qualifies me as a senior developer. I completed high school 23 years ago, where I studied foreign languages, not computer science. Anything before my 12 years of professional experience is irrelevant to the role with the exception of my software engineering degree that I completed 12 years ago when I was 29 Before that time I was focusing on family and have little job experience except for odd short term jobs I feel uncomfortable being asked about such a distant and unrelated period, especially since it has no bearing on my qualifications, and I worry this could open the door to ageism or other inappropriate assumptions, relating to the fact that I am a woman. How can I professionally navigate this situation, politely set boundaries, and refocus the conversation on my relevant experience and skills without seeming defensive or uncooperative? Any advice on addressing irrelevant interview questions in this context would be appreciated.

Feb 2, 2025 - 11:24

I am interviewing for a senior software engineer role, American owned company based in EU, and the company informed me they use a mix of top-down and bottom-up interview approaches. However, they mentioned they would ask questions about my high school years, which I find both irrelevant and intrusive.

For context:

I am 41 years old with 12 years of professional programming experience, which qualifies me as a senior developer.
I completed high school 23 years ago, where I studied foreign languages, not computer science.
Anything before my 12 years of professional experience is irrelevant to the role with the exception of my software engineering degree that I completed 12 years ago when I was 29
Before that time I was focusing on family and have little job experience except for odd short term jobs

I feel uncomfortable being asked about such a distant and unrelated period, especially since it has no bearing on my qualifications, and I worry this could open the door to ageism or other inappropriate assumptions, relating to the fact that I am a woman.

How can I professionally navigate this situation, politely set boundaries, and refocus the conversation on my relevant experience and skills without seeming defensive or uncooperative?

Any advice on addressing irrelevant interview questions in this context would be appreciated.