Keep Your Identity Safe While Job Hunting
Learn how to keep your Social Security number on lockdown
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You’ve been told never to give anyone your Social Security number. But then one day while on SnagAJob.com, you apply for a job and the application asks for your Social Security number. What do you do?
While it might seem like a bad idea, in many cases it’s perfectly OK to provide SnagAJob.com or a potential employer with your personal information. Don’t go giving out your Social Security number to just anyone, though. First, ask yourself these four questions.
Did I click the link while applying to a job on SnagAJob.com?
We do our best to check every employer on our site and make sure that they’re trustworthy. We are careful to keep all of your personal information secure and verify employer information. If we feel that a job posting is suspicious or have proof of past account problems, we will not post the job on our site. Your safety is very important to us and we do everything we can to keep your information safe. If you ever see a post you think is suspicious, please contact us and we will investigate the post for you.
However, job seekers must be vigilant about protecting their own personal information. We can’t control how outside employers use personal information submitted to them. If you find a link in an advertisement or anywhere outside of SnagAJob.com that asks for your Social Security number you need to be very careful; there is no way for us to know if the site is safe or not.
Have I heard of this company before?
Most large, well-known corporations have security measures in place to keep your information safe. Online data is usually encrypted and stored in a protected database. If you want to know how your information will be stored and used, look for a “Privacy Policy” link on the employer’s job application site. Here’s SnagAJob.com’s privacy policy.
Many employers will require that you give them your Social Security number before you can be considered for employment. This number may be used to detect fraud or run background checks. Also remember that if you get the job you’re applying for, you’ll be required by law to give your new employer your Social Security number anyway.
Is it required?
If giving your Social Security number to the company you’re applying with is optional, you can feel free to leave it off. The bottom line is this. Keeping your identity safe is your responsibility, so do everything you can to protect it and don’t give it out unless it’s absolutely necessary – which it may be when applying for a new job.
Did I get an email asking for my Social Security number?
SnagAJob.com will never ask for your Social Security number, your bank account information or any other personal information in an email. If you receive an email asking you for personal information, beware! This could be a phishing scam designed to swindle innocent people like you out of their hard-earned money. Learn more about how to avoid being the victim of a phishing scam.