Asking for Age and SSN on Job Application
System
5,885 Posts
Apparently some companies are starting to require applicants to include their age and social security number on job applications. Not after they have made it to the background check or job offer stage. On the application.
[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/01/job-applicants-age-disclosure-requirement_n_829637.html[/url]
I wouldn't be willing to put my SSN on a job application. And I would probably be reluctant to give my age or date of birth. That's very personal information that could make it easy for someone to steal my identity.
What do you all think? Do any of you ask for this info on job applications?
Wendi
[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/01/job-applicants-age-disclosure-requirement_n_829637.html[/url]
I wouldn't be willing to put my SSN on a job application. And I would probably be reluctant to give my age or date of birth. That's very personal information that could make it easy for someone to steal my identity.
What do you all think? Do any of you ask for this info on job applications?
Wendi
Comments
I have not had to complete a job application for some time, but I do remember we were asked for this kind of information alot in the old days. In fact, I remember an application that asked for the date of my last cycle. Sheesh! I'm old! (Paul and Frank: no comments from the peanut gallery.)
Our background check provider asks for this information in order to do the checks (which we don't do until a position has been offered), but we do not have access to the information (it is masked on the background reports). We don't actually get our hands on SSN and DOB until they fill out their new hire paperwork.
Strangely enough, I also recently completed an application that asked me when Nae had her last cycle. It just felt weird.
On a related note, I am somewhat disappointed at the lack of Oscar talk on the forum this year. Personally, I don't think I've seen any of the movies that won OR were even nominated, but it's usually a fun conversation nonetheless.
Sharon
Oops, sorry - didn't mean to take away from your Oscar's and baby update chat! LOL
I do have applicants who will enter all zeros, or 123456789 as their social, and that's okay as long as they understand I'm going to have to have it at some point.
I did have one applicant (I think I've recounted this story here before) who refused to give her social, address, or phone number on the application. When I told her there was a certain point in the process I would need that information, she informed me very clearly I was not getting that information, even if I hired her. It was none of our business where she lived, and she didn't want us calling her off the clock, and she doesn't give her SSN out to anyone. She sounded shocked when I told her she wasn't getting a second interview. On paper, she was by far our best applicant. I try not to intentionally hire people whose presence will constantly torment me, though.
Just curious but how did she expect to get paid if she wouldn't give up her SSN even after hire? Maybe she preferred being paid in chickens. :-/
Sharon
I notice some of you said you don't do background checks until post offer. If you haven't checked the applicant out, how do you know you want to make an offer. Here I check out the applicants, then forward the most qualified to the department manager to interview and make the job offer if they like the applicant.
Maybe we have different ideas of what constitutes background checks??? After reviewing resumes and doing phone screens/questionnaires with the candidates, we forward the most qualified to the hiring manager. After they decide on their final candidates, we do reference checks. Once we have a final candidate, we make all our offers contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screen, so that we don't ask for SSN and DOB until after the offer has been made. I think we've only had 2 offers that we've ever had to rescind because someone failed the background check/drug screen.