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Salary Q&A: Privacy and Prospective Employers
Is it OK to withhold my SS # or other personal
info when applying for a job?
Salary Talk with Erisa Ojimba,
Salary.com
Q. Sometimes, as I arrive at a prospective employer's office for a
first interview, the receptionist hands me an application that must be
filled out before the HR manager interviews me. This protocol seems to
take the focus of the interview away from my candidacy. I prefer not to
disclose personal information such as salary history, age, Social
Security number, etc. before we've discussed my skills, my experience,
and the benefits I can bring to the organization. How can I handle this
situation tactfully without giving offense?
 A.
Organizations sometimes expect applicants to complete an application so
that they can standardize the information they collect from candidates.
Yet although an employer may request your Social Security number, date
of birth, or driver’s license number when conducting a reference check
on you, you don’t have to release your personal information to a
prospective employer. You certainly don't have to release it before you
have spoken with someone.
Most employers ask applicants to provide their legal name, address,
telephone number, educational background, and work experience. An
employer needs this information to contact you for an interview, and to
determine whether your experience and skills are an appropriate fit for
the open position. An employer may also ask you for the name of a
previous supervisor they can call to verify your work experience. But if
you don't feel comfortable furnishing such information, let the
prospective employer know why.
There is a tactful way to tell a prospective employer you don’t feel
comfortable giving out personal information. Simply say you’ll be more
than happy to provide such information when you're hired. Most hiring
managers and HR representatives recognize and respect a candidate's
privacy, and will not demand personal information unless it is critical
to the hiring process.
When I have screened candidates who have not provided personal
information, it has never affected whether the candidate was hired or
not. Ultimately, a company wants to hire someone who meets the
qualifications of the job and has represented himself or herself
truthfully, hence a reference check.
Good luck on your search.
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- Erisa Ojimba, Certified Compensation Professional,
Salary.com.
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