Responding to Requests for Your SSN on an Application or Your Resume

This issue has troubled me for a long time.  I see absolutely NO reason that a legitimate employer or a recruiter would require a job seeker to provide their SSN on an application, their resume, or anywhere in the hiring process before references are being checked and an offer is pending.  However, some do require it.

It baffles me that a legitimate employer would want the liability associated with protecting this information.  Most of them, when they answer honestly, would not want to provide the information themselves, so why are they asking/demanding that job seekers provide it?

Gerry Crispin, corporate recruiting guru of CareerXRoads.com, recommends that job seekers provide a bogus SSN.

Although I prefer honesty in all my "transactions" with fellow humans, in this instance, I must agree with Gerry.  I recommend taking Gerry's strategy a step further - when you are required by a LEGITIMATE employer or recruiter (verify, first!) to provide your SSN - provide almost your real SSN.

Not the real thing, but almost...

For example, convert this SSN, # # # - # # - # # # #, into a very similar number, e.g. # # # - # 2 - 3 # 5 # .

"Sorry! Just typed that a little too fast," when/if you get asked about your SSN being invalid later in the recruitment process.  Hopefully, by that point, they'll be so interested in you that they'll forgive you for typing too fast.  If they have an IQ above room temperature, they'll probably understand why you did it, and sympathsize, even privately.

This is NOT an ideal solution, but, when the employer/recruiter is legitimate, it’s the best one I can see.

Gerry has suggested that there will be an expensive law suit sometime soon associated with this issue, with an employer paying a severe penalty for collecting and storing this information about job seekers.

I hope he's right, and I hope that the pain from that law suit causes employers to stop requiring this of job seekers.  It is neither nice, nor wise, to demand this extremely sensitive information be provided too early in the hiring process.

Comments

[Joelle Ware]

I understand your concern, but I disagree about providing a false SSN since it delays the screening process. Our company conducts credentials verifications and we require SSN in order to confirm your education or certifications. Many institutions used SSN as your main identifier and they request the SSN (with a signed consent from you) before they will provide information about your education or other credentials.

What you SHOULD recommend to the prospective employer is that they use Verify-ED. We enable our clients (the prospective employer) to enter screening requests WITHOUT an SSN or DOB and our system will generate a link to you (the job candidate) so that you can enter your information directly to us. You also have the option to contact us (or any pre-screening agency) directly so that you understand for what your information is being used. Some of our clients enter searches with dummy SSN information and wait for us to come back to them with the school's requirement for the information - but this only works if the client has time since it delays the process.

You, as the consumer, have every right to request the opportunity to provide SSN and DOB directly to information providers (your schools, certifying institutions, etc.)

If you have any questions about how to manage the usage of your SSN and DOB information for pre-screening, please give us a call (973-954-9545). We will be happy to help!

[ELAINE]

I recently went to a company (big company) and application asked for my SS# 3 times. I wish I had read your article and written it incorrectly. I don't think the SS# should be provided unless you are offered a job or they are really checking references. I wonder what happens to this paperwork when you are not being considered for the job. From now on I will not put my correct SS# on an application. I remember thinking at this time that this information should not be provided but some employers ask for it on the application.

[Susan Joyce]

Joelle, I strongly disagree with the whole idea, regardless of the implementation. Elaine's point is absolutely correct. What happens to the paperwork - and that very sensitive information - if the applicant isn't hired?

REQUIRING that an applicant provide their SSN before an interview is just laying the groundwork for all the scammers to come along and harvest information from anxious job seekers.

Requiring SSN's from job seekers in the application process is stupid and should be illegal. The risks for all parties involved are enormous - identity theft as a crime has increased just as online job hunting have increased. That's not coincidence.

Why should any job seeker trust Verify-ED? Never heard of them. They could be another scam. How does Verify-ED protect SSN's? I certainly wouldn't do what you suggested above.

Any employer who requires that a job seeker provide their SSN in the application process is putting up an unnecessary barrier and assuming an enormous risk - as is the job seeker.

If employers are really in a "war for talent" they should be removing barriers to connecting with job seekers not adding them.

[Timi Akinyemi]

I think what you are doing is great. what do you think about introducing an alternative to job search, I am not saying it's bad, but what about encouraging job searchers to do something on their own. For example, go into internet business or blogging to riches. At least that will keep them busy while they search. It can even earn them some cash.
give this a thought.
Anyway, Keep up the good job.

[Steve]

Monster.com is allowing a recruiter to post FAKE jobs on their web site for Las Vegas area and Florida areas. Usually the email extension is DBRWorldwide@ something... Do not apply for these positions as they are not real and they just want your information (personal).

[Stephen Van Vreede]

I agree that more and more companies are asking for this information today. In fact, there is a growing trend that may well be linked to obtaining candidate's social security number at the very beginning of the process. Many companies today are conducting credit checks in addition to or as part of the background check for any prospective employees. I think it is a very questionable practice, particularly considering how anyone reporting to a credit agency can seriously hurt a person's credit score, even with faulty information.

[resume templates]

great post

[Job Search]

With all the frad this day in age I would never give up my SSN unless absolutly nessary.

Jeff
http://www.jobsearchpage.com

[jobkiosk.blogspot.com]

Many jobs I have found require a reas SS# because they need to do a backgroung and Credit Check. A credit check is important for many jobs as they want to protect their assets.

[Ace]

This information should be outsourced to someone with no affiliation to the job. I absolutely agree that your SN should not be given like candy.

[Jayna Butler]

I do agree and disagree...

Generally, SS# are used to verify information such as education and employment prior to a job offer, however. But with a lot of job postings being scams and illegitimate work at home jobs, people just need to be quite conscious with disclosing confidential information with a potential employer.

[None]

I disagree about making something up. I find that quite a few of these sites will accept 000-00-0000. I refuse to give it unless an offer is made. I think there should be a law passed. Remember when merchants asked for a credit card when you wrote a personal check. They are not allowed to do that by law anylonger. Samething should happen with an SSN.

[None]

In response to Joelle Ware. I agree once the offer is extended a background must take place. But the argument here is providing it on an application with no guarantee you are the candidate. A company is not going to collect 200 applications for one job and do a background check on all 200 people. They will only do the check on the one extended an offer. Then an SSN can be provided. If I want to fill out a general application say for a Supermarket job on their website I should not be forced to provide my SSN. I don't know who is retrieving it on the other side. I only provide it when offered a job and I provide it in person not online.