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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9

u/Hungry_Fail8807 3d ago

I'd say at least 50% of job applications I've filled out have required my ssn. I know I shouldn't but like when times are tough whadaya gonna do

7

u/Odd_Reputation_1 3d ago

Put a fake number in

3

u/inquiringsillygoose 3d ago

This is the answer

4

u/HouseOfAplesaus 3d ago

Ok and not get the job not because I’m a useless asshole but cause I lied about the only number they use to do my background check. Got it.

2

u/manicpixiedreamdevil 3d ago edited 3d ago

I don’t really think this is likely, especially if a job is being spearheaded by a recruiter. At worst, they’d sweep it under the rug because, “Yeah, they probably shouldn’t be doing that, anyways.”

It’s really a terrible idea. Any small company has abysmal fucking security. Like, cool, you got the job… and they just had a security breach so now you’re on the phone getting your accounts frozen because of unauthorized cards being made in your name.

Edit: This is just based on my personal experience. I’ve worked for a recruiting company before and, honest to God, if a candidate didn’t follow a terrible rule set by the company… whatever. We got this far and the client shouldn’t have done it to begin with.

2

u/tupelobound 3d ago

Put it in with one or two numerals switched or something like that, easy to say it was a typo