Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter?

Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (Full Version)

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kalikshama -> Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:18:14 AM)
After working for three years to extract information from the WWW and then spending four years putting information on there, I have developed privacy concerns. So when a temp agency wants me to provide my social security card at my first meeting with them, I wonder - is this standard practice? I'd prefer to give it up when there is a firm job offer or I am filling out a W-4. Thoughts? Thoughts on how to diplomatically word my objection? Thanks!

searching4mysir -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:21:05 AM)
FR I've said "until we know if we will be working together, why do you need it?" I've left it blank more often than not and it usually is never mentioned.

LadyConstanze -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:23:10 AM)
It could be that they are trying to find out if there are legal concerns? I really don't know but it does seem a bit much at such an early stage of the game?

LadyPact -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:36:54 AM)
Hi kalikshama. Sorry, but standard practice. The temp agency really can't deal with you at all until they know you are legal to work in the country. That includes proof of your SSN. (You'll need to provide that and one other form of ID from the list of acceptable forms of identification that they should provide.) The agency does have to have photocopies of both on file before they can send you to any assignment they might have for you. Temp agencies are something of the opposite than regular hiring practices. For a permanent position, you'd be right. They offer the job, then you do the paperwork, do any drug testing that's required, and then do orientation. Temp agencies have the task of offering businesses employees that are ready to work, so their order is paperwork, standard drug testing, orientation for the temp agency itself, and then assignment. Depending on placement there may also have orientation/training on site. This is actually one of the reasons that temp agencies are so successful. The business using the temp agency has all of the time consuming parts of the hiring process taken care of under contract for the fee that they pay. Hope that helps.

tj444 -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:45:25 AM)
maybe they e-verify before going further? Even tho employers may not hire someone or may keep them on file, they want an application filled out including the SSN so they can verify the info given, be it education, previous work experience or your right to work legally, etc..

searching4mysir -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:48:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyPact Hi kalikshama. Sorry, but standard practice. The temp agency really can't deal with you at all until they know you are legal to work in the country. That includes proof of your SSN. (You'll need to provide that and one other form of ID from the list of acceptable forms of identification that they should provide.) The agency does have to have photocopies of both on file before they can send you to any assignment they might have for you. Temp agencies are something of the opposite than regular hiring practices. For a permanent position, you'd be right. They offer the job, then you do the paperwork, do any drug testing that's required, and then do orientation. Temp agencies have the task of offering businesses employees that are ready to work, so their order is paperwork, standard drug testing, orientation for the temp agency itself, and then assignment. Depending on placement there may also have orientation/training on site. This is actually one of the reasons that temp agencies are so successful. The business using the temp agency has all of the time consuming parts of the hiring process taken care of under contract for the fee that they pay. Hope that helps. If you are talking about the I-9 form, you can provide a passport instead and then you only need the one document.

LadyHibiscus -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:50:24 AM)
I agree with what Lady Pact said, the passport does not indicate that you are available to work legally.

tj444 -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:52:42 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus I agree with what Lady Pact said, the passport does not indicate that you are available to work legally. even if its an American passport? doesnt every American have the right to work in the US?

LadyHibiscus -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 9:54:50 AM)
I would say yes, but honestly I am not sure if that's 100% true! The I-9 is to prove IDENTITY, in order to be hired you need the SSN anyway. But the I-9 is AFTER you're hired anyway...

LadyPact -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:03:43 AM)
You can use a passport rather than taking one document from list A and one from list B for I-9. A very high majority of folks using temp agencies don't have one. I don't think I processed one in the two years I did that type of work. Edited - Going to leave the mistake here for the sake of continuity. It used to be one from list A (ID) one from list B (employment verification) or one from list C (both). They did switch the letters for which list was which at one point, but I'm still used to the old way.

searching4mysir -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:05:42 AM)
The I-9 is the Employment Eligibility Verification form.

LadyPact -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:12:40 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus I would say yes, but honestly I am not sure if that's 100% true! The I-9 is to prove IDENTITY, in order to be hired you need the SSN anyway. But the I-9 is AFTER you're hired anyway... Technically, the temp agency is 'hiring' you as soon as you show up. You don't work for the job site where you are placed. You are an employee of the temp agency for as long as the terms of the contract provide. The temp agency is the one who issues the paycheck, has the insurance plan that you can buy into, and is actually your employment reference in the future. The temp agency's job is to supply people who are able to be used at the job site as soon as they get there. (Training suited to the particular job site may apply.) The idea is to fill the empty spaces with bodies that can be put to the task as soon as possible.

searching4mysir -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:19:05 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyPact quote: ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus I would say yes, but honestly I am not sure if that's 100% true! The I-9 is to prove IDENTITY, in order to be hired you need the SSN anyway. But the I-9 is AFTER you're hired anyway... Technically, the temp agency is 'hiring' you as soon as you show up. You don't work for the job site where you are placed. You are an employee of the temp agency for as long as the terms of the contract provide. The temp agency is the one who issues the paycheck, has the insurance plan that you can buy into, and is actually your employment reference in the future. The temp agency's job is to supply people who are able to be used at the job site as soon as they get there. (Training suited to the particular job site may apply.) The idea is to fill the empty spaces with bodies that can be put to the task as soon as possible. You aren't their employee until they actually find work for you. I can't show OfficeTeam as my present employer if they haven't sent me on an assignment in over three years just because I'm signed up with them.

LadyPact -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:24:35 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus I would say yes, but honestly I am not sure if that's 100% true! The I-9 is to prove IDENTITY, in order to be hired you need the SSN anyway. But the I-9 is AFTER you're hired anyway... Almost. List A are documents that confirm both identity AND employment eligibility. Those are types like US passport, alien resident card, etc. All of these are confirmation of employment eligibility due to the type of document that also have picture identification. List B are picture ID's that don't confirm eligibility. Driver's license, state issued ID, etc. List C is employment eligibility status, but doesn't necessarily identify the person. Those are documents like your Social Security Card, etc, that have no picture to prove that you are the person who has the card.

LadyPact -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:26:50 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: searching4mysir You aren't their employee until they actually find work for you. I can't show OfficeTeam as my present employer if they haven't sent me on an assignment in over three years just because I'm signed up with them. You can. You'd be dumb as hell to do it, but you can use it to establish that you passed employment verification and passed a drug test at some point.

LaTigresse -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:49:38 AM)
In addition, more and more prospective employers are doing credit checks prior to hiring. I've had several that have said they would and asked if I felt it would be a problem (aka bad credit). I've also been required to provide SSN with several.

LadyHibiscus -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:50:29 AM)
I am so very very glad to be self employed!!

kalikshama -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 10:53:30 AM)
I do have a passport but would I be seen as a problem if I wanted to use that rather than a driver's license and social security card?

littlewonder -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 12:26:27 PM)
I've worked temp jobs most of my adult life. They always ask for your ssn for tax purposes, at least at all the different ones I have ever used over 4 different states.

littlewonder -> RE: Giving my Social Security Number to a Recruiter? (7/30/2012 12:28:25 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyPact quote: ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus I would say yes, but honestly I am not sure if that's 100% true! The I-9 is to prove IDENTITY, in order to be hired you need the SSN anyway. But the I-9 is AFTER you're hired anyway... Technically, the temp agency is 'hiring' you as soon as you show up. You don't work for the job site where you are placed. You are an employee of the temp agency for as long as the terms of the contract provide. The temp agency is the one who issues the paycheck, has the insurance plan that you can buy into, and is actually your employment reference in the future. The temp agency's job is to supply people who are able to be used at the job site as soon as they get there. (Training suited to the particular job site may apply.) The idea is to fill the empty spaces with bodies that can be put to the task as soon as possible. She's absolutely correct.

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