Is anyone a HR Rep? Interview help please

myskyegirl

Hey guys,

I have an interview this afternoon at a large ins. co and the employment application is asking for my SS# and I'm not comfortable w/giving that out right now. 

I don't mind them doing a background check or a credit check,but I don't see the necessity and I'm not comfortable with it being on a paper when I'm only going in for first round interviews.  I'll give it if they offer me a job, but before knowing that my paperwork is just going to be thrown into a file cabinet if the job is not offered to me makes me very uncomfortable.

My question is, if they ask me for my SS# today how to I explain to them that I'm not comfortable with that?  I don't want them to stop considering me for 2nd round interviews because I didn't want them have my SS# when they don't plan on running a background check.  

ByeBabyBunting

You might want to start by asking why they need it? Maybe they have a good reason, and one you know it you can make a final decision.

myskyegirl

@byebabybunting,  I know they want it so they can do a background and a credit check on me, but they don't do those until after a job offer is made.  I'm just not comfortable with them having it knowing that they don't need it because they don't have any intention of using it.

myskyegirl

@krptcmschfmkr128, every job I've been offered they did it after.  

ByeBabyBunting

DH's job did it before too. If it's just an assumption that they do it after, I think you might want to ask. If it is the difference between getting the job or not, is it worth it to you to give it out? You should probably decide that before you go in.

Pips09

I'm in HR and I would never give my SSN out prior to being hired. Just leave it blank and submit the application. If they ask, let them know that your not comfortable disclosing that until you are hired. Really, it should be no big deal, they shouldn't be conducting any background check prior to an offer being made.

MsMommy2012

Leave it blank. Background checks are expensive and they don't run them on everyone. They will just ask you for it when they need it.

tracey4228

Pips09 said:

I'm in HR and I would never give my SSN out prior to being hired. Just leave it blank and submit the application. If they ask, let them know that your not comfortable disclosing that until you are hired. Really, it should be no big deal, they shouldn't be conducting any background check prior to an offer being made.

This entirely. Like MsMommy2012 said, background checks are costly so done after. I'm a HR Director and wouldn't (a) give my SSN prior to offer and (b) run a background check prior o offer. Some companies used to ask for it years ago on the application but most have taken it off. Odds are you'll have to sign a background consent anyway which is where the SSN will be needed. If  they are dicks about it and try to wave off your concerns, then frankly you may not want to work somewhere that is cavalier about your privacy.

thebanich

I'm in HR and we ask for the SSN on the application but I'm fairly certain it is only there because we haven't updated the application it forever. Just leave it blank. No big deal. There is no way we would do background checks on every interviewed candidate. That shit is expensive.

TheBub

Many years ago, when I first interviewed with my current employer, it came up in the interview that I had seen their postings before, but never applied.  They asked why, and I told them that the first question was your SSN, and that I thought it was a scam.  They had no idea and brought it up to the hiring department.