Pre-interview application - how much info to provide

[Thicko]

Hi all,

I tentatively applied for a job with a firm who are reasonably large in my field but am shocked at the amount of information they 'require' as part of my pre-interview application.

For instance, I have had to apply for a CRB check, which is fine, as it may prove useful in other areas, such as my hobby, but they are now asking for me to provide a credit check on myself. Is this normal?

They're also asking for a whole heap of utility bills because my driving licence does not qualify as proof of address.

Additionally, the application form asks for details of previous addresses (something I've had to give for the CRB anyway), despite the fact I've been at my current address for 2.5 years. They also 'need' to know whether I'm married, whether I consider myself to be of certain racial background and lots of other things that make me wonder what they're going to do with it all. This is all before I've got an interview.

Is all of this stuff normal or am I looking to hand over too much personal information?

Many thanks.

[liner33]

I was surprised that on an application form for a teacher it asked that kind of stuff apart from credit check , but it added sexual preference ! You dont have to answer most of that by law but who knows how it will impact your application

[DCS01]

Remember that CRB / discolsure is only a legal requirement if the post involves unsupervised contact with children or is a regulated position under FSA rules. If you are not happy about getting a check done ( you may not be able to get yourself checked and may ahve to go through a third party) then look up the Home Office web site, they say a check 'must' not be done if the position does not fit in with the above criteria.

[Engineer1]

Depends on what they do, I may be wrong but CRBs only applied to the role you applied for them in, I.e. you could be a youth group leader with a CRB but you couldn't use that CRB for work and would need a re-check for that role.

[Thicko]

Thanks chaps,

It's not the CRB check that bothers me (mine came today) but the request for the credit check which bothers me. Is it normal to need one?

[Flibble]

Thicko said:

Thanks chaps,

It's not the CRB check that bothers me (mine came today) but the request for the credit check which bothers me. Is it normal to need one?

Not normal for most roles, maybe if you need SC or something for your role.

Also asking about marital status, racial background, etc are risky business as they're potentially opening themselves up to a discrimination claim. You can probably refuse to provide most of the information.

[Engineer1]

I bet the Religion etc is on a seperate sheet with a serial no. that matches or links to the application form, if it isn't the company is leaving themselves open to the I would have got the job except I am, Gay, Straight, White, Brown, Yellow, Disabled etc. I'd even guess the bit with your name on it will be on this as well so they can't base the decision on assumptions based on a name, Winston, Ian, Mohammed, Dawn, Chardoney etc all give hints or suggest mental pictures about the applicant.