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I have filled out online forms that do require an SS# and references ahead of time. In fact, someone on my team is looking for a job and made mention of this the other day, saying it makes her nervous that this information is out there. Most do not ask for this, but some do.
Giving out your SS number willy nilly is a very bad idea especially when data breaches are very common.
When I see an excessive amount of questions on an application I tend to avoid it to focus on more job-hunting.
The point still stands that no company needs my references before they even talk to me.
Agree with you! I will rarely apply to a job with a lengthy application. There were a few government jobs in DC I applied to that had a very lengthy application, and it took me hours to complete, however, those positions were the exception. The jobs that actually called me in for an interview, and the jobs I landed, none of the applications were lengthy.
My current position, I applied to via LinkedIn. It was literally a few clicks of the mouse and my resume was already pre-populated from my profile.
Agree with you! I will rarely apply to a job with a lengthy application. There were a few government jobs in DC I applied to that had a very lengthy application, and it took me hours to complete, however, those positions were the exception. The jobs that actually called me in for an interview, and the jobs I landed, none of the applications were lengthy.
My current position, I applied to via LinkedIn. It was literally a few clicks of the mouse and my resume was already pre-populated from my profile.
Best way to apply is forwarding your resume to a warm contact within the company. Try linking in with someone and writing them a message expressing interest. BS them a bit, find a coach in the company.Going through the online apps blind is mostly a waste of time. Ask folks for help, you'd be surprised sometimes who ends up coming through.
I always skip over those questions (unless they are required). Like everyone else, for me, time is valuable, so I try to maximize potential return with effort.
i once had a recruiter hired by a company to pre-screen applicants call my references before i had an in-person interview at the actual company (i had already done a phone interview with the recruiter). i really did not like that and i would be really bothered if that became standard practice. when you ask someone to be your reference you are asking them for a favor, and i would be a lot more hesitant to ask if i knew they'd be bombarded with calls from everywhere i applied. and a lot of people would be a lot more hesitant to say YES to being a reference if that was what normally happened when you did. my references are all my former bosses, they are busy people who are graciously giving their time on my behalf, and that shouldn't be abused.
likewise, i don't like sending the names and phone numbers of my references (or my social security number) off to every place where i apply (in my last job search, i applied to probably over 100 places). they don't need that info at that point, and i have no way of knowing how well they are going to take care of the sensitive personal information i'm giving them about me and other people.
i will fill out long and cumbersome applications, and supply all of that stuff ahead of time... but only if i REALLY REALLY want the job. this screening out thing works both ways - sure, you might deter some weak-willed candidates by making them jump through all these hoops, but you're also deterring desirable candidates who have options and don't need to put up with a bunch of nonsense before they've even interviewed.
a company saying they need to check references (including current employer, which is beyond unreasonable) before they even interview someone because THEY don't want to waste THEIR time on interviews.... oh boo hoo hoo. there are lots of reasons why an interview with someone might end up being a waste of time, that's just life and part of the hiring process. making unreasonable demands of applicants (and their references) is not worth it, and will eliminate lots of perfectly good applicants, without making the remaining applicant pool necessarily any better.
You would think they would know better than to ask for a SSN on an online application. Perhaps they do, but they just don't care.
They don't care. Why would they? The bad economy has made many people so desperate that they think jumping through any hoop makes them more employable, when in actuality it makes them more susceptible to employer abuse.
I bet employers could start asking for how many partners you've had in your lifetime and these same people would rationalize why it's necessary for the job.
A lot of job applications now ask interview questions and ask for references before you even talk to the employer. Do you tend to skip these types of job applications?
If I see too many questions I abandon ship. Why spend an hour filling out one application that may be passed over when I could use that time to apply to 10 other jobs?
Yep. Too much bull****. I want a closed-captioning job where all I have to do is TYPE FAST ENOUGH. Period. No work history needed, no checking anything, no bull****.
Maybe I'll have to move to the country where they're outsourcing that kind of work!!!
I'm actually in agreement about the long applications. If it's a job that I'm REALLY interested in, I'll do it. Otherwise, it's just not worth my time.
Out of all the calls I get for interviews, I'd say 1 in 10 is one of those with a long application (usually sponsored by the wonderful Taleo).
And what makes this situation even worse is a lot of employers not only require you to fill out a long application with your entire history, SSN, references, etc. They also want you to take time to do one of those personality tests. I really do hate those things.
likewise, i don't like sending the names and phone numbers of my references (or my social security number) off to every place where i apply (in my last job search, i applied to probably over 100 places). they don't need that info at that point, and i have no way of knowing how well they are going to take care of the sensitive personal information i'm giving them about me and other people.
i will fill out long and cumbersome applications, and supply all of that stuff ahead of time... but only if i REALLY REALLY want the job. this screening out thing works both ways - sure, you might deter some weak-willed candidates by making them jump through all these hoops, but you're also deterring desirable candidates who have options and don't need to put up with a bunch of nonsense before they've even interviewed.
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