SSN on Employment Applications: Yes or No?

What should you do if an employer requests your Social Security number on their application?

This is the question that was raised on one job search blog and, I have to admit, the answer surprised me. Why? Because the author was recommending that prospective candidates supply slightly false social security numbers to prospective employers. (For example, if your ssn is 156-23-0097, you would give the number 156-24-0097). The rationale for this strategy is, as I understand it, to protect the job hunter's privacy while making sure that the application does not get kicked back because of incomplete information.

But there is an obvious downside to this strategy. First of all, it creates unnecessary work for the potential employer. If they do, indeed, want to use that information to check references, education, credentials, they are going to spend time tracking down false information. This is likely to annoy them and make the candidate look careless simultaneously -- not a great strategy to get hired.

In truth, there is no good reason for an employer to ask for your social security number before meeting you. If they want to check your academic credentials, for example, they can ask you to have a transcript sent directly from the school. The same holds true for certifications. You have a right to control the information that they receive about you. When you give them your social security number, you give up some of your rights to privacy.

I am big believer in boundaries aka setting limits. I also believe that you have the right to decide how much information you give to prospective employers. So what are your choices?

You can look for another way to apply for the job (other than through online applications) such as: networking, snail mail, fax.

Or you can put all "zeroes" in the SSN box. Although (technically) this is false information, it is obviously false information. It is a way to notify the prospective employer that you do not want to provide your social security number; but you also avoid causing them annoying and unnecessary work. Most employers will get the message and, in a perfect world, respect your right to privacy.

And if they can't or won't respect your right to privacy, maybe they aren't the best people to work for, anyway.