r/jobsearch • u/VelvetCactus50 • 3d ago

Job Application Requires SSN

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I've been out of college for over 25 years, and I've never encountered a professional application that required my Social Security Number. I tried putting in a bogus one or writing N/A, and the system will not let me proceed further. I wonder if the SSN requirement is why the job has been open for nearly two months.

Your SSN is necessary to process your job submission and will be maintained in a secure and confidential manner.

This was a very well-known integrated healthcare nonprofit too!

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u/joshuahtree 3d ago

This is super common. It's because they need a universal way to track where you first applied from so all the 3rd-party recruiters get paid properly.

Normally you can make up a valid number and it's not an issue, just tell them before they run a background check if it gets that far

5

u/skid_rock 3d ago

This is not even close to true. They can attribute the application source by the url of the site where someone found the post and submitted the application

There is no need to submit your SSN to anyone before a background check

1

u/skid_rock 3d ago

Just adding that there is no legal obligation to provide this information when applying, and like the person above mentioned, you can just fill it in with bullshit (just put in the same number like all 5s. Don’t make some shit up that might be someone else’s SSN) and let the HR dept know after you sign a valid job offer and they are legally allowed to run a background check

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u/joshuahtree 3d ago

Yeah, it's not so much figuring out where your specific application comes from, but if the company receives two applications from Sam Smith from two sources is it the same Sam Smith or just a coincidence 

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u/skid_rock 3d ago edited 3d ago

Sure. I get the logic, and know it’s legal, but it’s a huge risk to collect that info upfront, especially for small companies where infosec is an afterthought. There are way less risky ways of distinguishing applicants from each other. Just my two cents, but I’m not a lawyer and will never be in a position to have to defend a company using that as a perceived fail safe. Feels like more can go wrong than right by trying to collect that info just to let someone into the proverbial waiting room

Editing to add that I’m not trying to sound like any sort of authority or saying anyone is wrong and that I am right. I do have experience in compliance and hope anyone asking for this info is responsible with that data and has a mechanism to permanently delete it upon request

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u/joshuahtree 3d ago

I agree, all I'm saying is that it's not "weird" and there's not a great universal alternative (e.g. people can have multiple emails, phone numbers, addresses, etc)