Is a recruiter asking for the last four of social norms? Given something as private as your social security number, you may be reasonably cautious about handing it to a recruiter.
One is likely to run across various queries or forms during the job application and employment process that call for him/her to supply his/her data, like the social security number. When completing a job application or as part of background checks, a recruiter could ask for the last four digits of your social security number. This raises the second issue: Is it reasonable and expected for the recruiters to ask the last four of your SSN?
As you can guess, the last 4 digits of the SSN tell a lot about the owner
Thus, the services usually do not require the entry of the full social security number; however, the last four digits may contain some private details. The last four digits can assist in identifying you and comparing registration details or logbooks to your name. It can also be used to get information on where and when the given social security number was provided. Well, I can now conclude that giving the last four digits of the SSN does provide recruiters with some opportunity to peek into certain personal details.
Recruiters may request the final four digits of a social security number for several reasons, but getting an exact answer is not easy.
There are a few reasons why a recruiter may request the last four digits of your social security number during the hiring process:
- Authentication – It is possible to validate or verify an individual’s identity with four digits that can also carry out required background checks.
- Payroll Documentation – It is clear that to be able to work for any employer and meet their payroll and tax requirements, four digits are sufficient especially when hired formally.
- Record Tracking – By adding the last four digits, the company can pair you with your application documents correctly.
- Employee Screening - This information may be used to perform necessary background checks and criminal history evaluations.
- Drug Tests – Some labs require the employee’s first and last name along with a partial social security number so that the lab can match the results with the employee file.
Therefore, in most contexts, the last four digits of your social security number are requested by the recruiter to ease the process of recruiting or onboarding an employee.
Now, is this, what is being depicted here, is this normal and acceptable?
Specifically, it is not seen as improper for employers to request the applicant’s SSN at a certain stage of the process, but rather it is seen as acceptable. It is permissible for them to make such a request and usual for an applicant to provide such information on forms or his or her records.
Having said that, not all companies will request the last four digits of your social security number. These policies may differ depending on the organization, the country or region that the company operates in, and the industry and job role. Some may demand additional numbers, whereas others do not ask for your SSN at all until you receive the offer.
Strategies and Considerations when Requesting the Last 4 Digits from Applicants
If a recruiter does ask you to furnish the last four digits of your social security number, there are some best practices they should follow:
• The author must inform the reader why this information is needed at the beginning in a non-ambiguous and clear manner. • Make sure that they are properly equipped to safeguard your data through policies such as confidentiality and data protection. • Limit the amount of data collected and used for their hiring and screening processes to the bare minimum necessary. • Prevent me from feeling cornered or compelled to give out any of my Social Security number digits
Some practical actions that applicants can take include asking questions about the protection of this type of information once it is collected as well as how it will be used. As for the second type of information, one can use other state labor department sites to learn more about the rights of workers.
Things to Do if One Feels Uncomfortable Disclosing This Information
Many applicants may not be comfortable with inputting SSN or even just the last four digits of the same in the applications. Such hesitation is quite a logical course of action to pursue since many people are wary of identity theft and other risks associated with sharing their data.
If you feel uncomfortable providing the last four digits of your SSN to a recruiter or hiring manager, you have a few options:
- Request permission to give this information during the official employment documentation used for new hires' onboarding rather than on the job application form.
- It will be helpful to further state clearly why they need this information and how it will be used, processed, and secured.
- Nominally, it stands for the Social Security Number – a piece of information that many people don’t want to share with strangers or even friends, as having parts of your SSN in the hands of a malicious person is quite dangerous.
- If you have policy requirements showing SSN information at the application stage and you are uncomfortable doing so, then do not apply for the job.
If the employment application does not specify that the last four digits of the SSN are needed for screening purposes, the recruiter may negotiate to collect the information at a later date or use other tracking personnel numbers as instructed.
Overall Recommendation – Beware
Recruiting candidates and target hiring for any position is acceptable and not uncommon for recruiters to ask for the last four digits of the social security number of the applicant. However, as an applicant, you should be told why it is essential to furnish the said information in your application. Employer policies may differ, and thus first take care in determining at what stage you feel safe providing your SSN digits. There are cases when individuals may want to know how their data will be protected or may have concerns about identity protection; therefore, it may be necessary to raise such concerns or ask questions. Similarly, with caution, job applicants can proceed in a normal and orderly manner as they only have to be careful in their decision to disclose some parts of an SSN.
Call now for expert credit repair services: (888) 803-7889
Read More:
How much will my credit score go up if I pay off a collection?
How rare is a 720 credit score?
Does Experian give you your real FICO score?
Can I trust my Experian credit score?
How much does it cost to lock your Social Security number?
