Social Security Number on job application.

[paddywakk]

Your social security number is also used to identify you for a background and/or credit check. I suppose you can decline to give it unless you are offered the job subject to the background/credit check. It's likely though that many employers won't go along with that because (1) they have plenty of candidates who will provide it, and (2) the application process is also a screening process and disobedience at the getgo will get you eliminated from consideration.

Your recalcitrance (while laudable) will limit your opportunities. If you are OK with that, more power to you.

Unless

You'd be surprised: at recent interview HR manager agreed with me that at THAT moment she did not need my SS#. That happened, though, only when I got up and was ready to leave. She asked me to stay and agreed that the number is needed only for taxation purposes - employer is a tax agent for the employee. When the interview came to unsuccessful end, - they couldn't pay what I wanted, - we parted company on that there was no reason for my SS# to sit in their, on any other potential employer, BD forever. That, BTW, goes for all other personal info: DL#, DOB, etc.

That is THE SCRUPULOUS company or, personally, that HR manager. Others just use their dominant position to poke their noses where they should not. Anyway they are not gonna do a background check on ALL applicants. Job offer is conditional on all bells and whistles they want. Before that they should be interested only in my personal/professional suitability for the job. Going beyond that is UNSCRUPULOUS, IMHO.

Unless, like at my employer where I've interviewed many applicants, no one is ever offered a job until after the background/criminal check is completed. Had you got up to walk out, I would happily let you go on your way.