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Sidney Bristow
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265
Accounting
08/26/19 at 9:31PM UTC
in
Career

Legal for HR?

I had a couple interviews with this company and then thought I was out of contention, but they emailed me to ask for a background check authorization. I found it a very odd request. At my current company, we don't ask for that until after the offer has been extended and accepted. So I called and spoke with the Hiring Mgr (who is also HR), because I wanted to know the next steps: have they narrowed down the field? have they determined salary and work hours?Basically I wanted to know if it was worth it to give them my personal information. The Hiring Mgr played coy as if she didn't know the pay and the work hours were still in flux. At that point I was curious to know what the end would be. Are they just stringing me along as a 2nd or 3rd choice in case others fell through? Am I being hired and they just have a backward way of onboarding? Well, I still don't know. The date I was told I'd hear something has come and gone. I'll contact them, probably tomorrow, because I really doubt now if I want this job. But what I'd like to know is this: Is it legal for them to get my personal info (SSN, DL, address, DOB) BEFORE I get an offer of employment and accept?? I feel sorta like I might soon be an identity theft victim (paranoia setting in). It's a reputable company, but still. Does anyone know if this is "normal"?

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Carrie Topolski
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2.34k
Empowering women and beyond!
08/28/19 at 5:28PM UTC
Same here... mine was done prior.
Anonymous
08/28/19 at 2:47PM UTC
We check references prior to the offer, but make a conditional offer that background, physical and drug screening are good before start date.
Renee Chalfant
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34
Hippie in a cocktail dress
08/28/19 at 1:22PM UTC
I work in education, and when we get down to the last 30 of the 900+ resumes, we ask for a criminal check nationwide prior to 3rd and 4th interview. Critical info for working with children for legal and safety reasons.
Sidney Bristow
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265
Accounting
08/28/19 at 2:36AM UTC
Wow, you guys are just great. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed. I got the verbal offer today. It was a low-ball offer and I'm going to turn it down tomorrow. My dream job is out there (or dreamier), but this is not it.
Anonymous
08/27/19 at 9:15PM UTC
I remember signing up with staffing agencies back in the day and they had so much of you information it wasn't even funny and sometimes offers were not extended. One day I was signing up with a new agency and a elderly lady came In and said she had been working with the company for 3 months and they have not got her a job I remember her saying (What are you all doing with my information) I need someone to tell me where my information is being housed?? If you can't find me a job give me all of my paper work back and let me see you remove me from your data base I was like wow! I'll never forget this I started to be more Leary of who I gave my social and driver’s license to. I also never got a job with that staffing agency either and I drove by there months later and they were no longer in business. So you have every right to wonder why they are asking for all the info upfront and its ok to ask probing questions.
Jennifer A
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968
08/27/19 at 2:18PM UTC
I don't know if it's illegal now or not but I remember a time when it was a bit more common. I remember getting advice to keep my credit clean because if I wanted a new job, they may want to run credit to see if I was responsible and that was one way to do it. Responsible with my money meant that I would be responsible with theirs. In recent years, I have had the offer based on background checks so things may have changed. I could see that if I had two equal candidates, I might ask for the background on both to see if one rises above the other OR to have both so that if one offer falls through, then I have a backup in my pocket. Since these puppies cost, I wouldn't assume that it's a scam.
Melanie
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585
HR Leader giving my own two cents to help women.
08/27/19 at 1:04PM UTC
While most companies extend the offer then begin the background check process, a company can request a background authorization form be completed during the hiring process. Some companies ask for a lot of info in advance to speed up the hiring process. It’s depends on the state if it is illegal or not. It may be a way to screen out people and have a disparate impact on some groups. If you are reluctant to give out my SSN then put all zeros, if you get an offer update the application to put your actual info. Regardless, I like you would be concerned about the vagueness of HR. We should strive to be as transparent as possible so what is this company’s culture really like. Good luck!
Lady Pele
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3.96k
Retired Project Manager
08/27/19 at 12:36PM UTC
For my current position, I received an offer dependent on the background check and drug test results.
Laura Lorenzana
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88
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. - T E
08/27/19 at 1:46AM UTC
Consider the value of that background check. If they wait until they've on-boarded you, and then find there's an issue, they then have the difficult task of either backtracking on the offer or going ahead with an employee with a background issue. By doing that check up front, they reduce the risk of hiring someone with an issue, which can be very costly. Hopefully they'll provide an offer, but if they don't, simply remember the lesson and move forward with confidence that it wasn't a good fit.

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