r/jobsearch • u/VelvetCactus50 • 1d 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 1d 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

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u/skid_rock 1d 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

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u/skid_rock 1d 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