I've been entertaining the idea of getting a nanny job to earn some extra bucks and be able to stay at home with my daughter. Yesterday I answered an add on craiglist for watching a 14 month old for 5 hours a day, Mon-Fri. Right up my ally. In the add it said they wanted to do a back ground check, which is totally fine by me (never know who you'll get on craigslist!).
So just now I get a response from "her" asking me for my full name and drivers license number so she can run her background check prior to the interview. Something feels really, really wrong about giving that kind of information to a total stranger over the internet. For all I know "she's" a 50 year old man fishing the internet for SSN's for identity theft.
Is this normal? I don't want to offend her if she's for real, but at the same time, I really don't want to give that info to her without first meeting her. Should I suggest we meet at the park or something, to see if she's really the mother of a 14 month old?
First off, yes, she needs that information to do a background check on you.
Secondly, yes, you should not give that information out before deciding whether you want the job or not or whether she wants you. Heck, it costs $ to run a background check! And how does she know you are giving her your real name/ssn and not your second cousin's or neighbors?
I would say something like "I am nervous about identity theft and do not give that information out either in email or on the phone. Can I give it to you at the interview, along with my other ID forms for the I-9? I understand that my hiring is contingent on a clean background investigation. "
I wouldn't give that info to some random person from the internet. Let "her" know you aren't comfortable giving out that information without at least first meeting with her. If it means you lose a job, so be it - better safe than sorry.
Originally Posted by siobhang
Secondly, yes, you should not give that information out before deciding whether you want the job or not or whether she wants you.
That's not what concerns me. If she wants to run a back ground check on me before a formal interview (with her and her husband), that's fine. It's the giving of my drivers lisence to a stranger from craigslist via email, having never met her before. That's why I thought maybe meeting at a park, with the kids, and if she wants to me to come for an interview with her husband then she can do the back ground check.
Originally Posted by siobhang
I would say something like "I am nervous about identity theft and do not give that information out either in email or on the phone. Can I give it to you at the interview, along with my other ID forms for the I-9? I understand that my hiring is contingent on a clean background investigation. "
This.
When I was a landlord, we had to get permission from the tenant in order to run the background check on them. They had to fill out an application and sign it. I think it's very fishy that she asked for this information over email and did not have you fill out some kind of form or application. I'd definitely ask to meet her in person (and the 14 mo) before giving her any kind of personal information.
Well I emailed her back last night telling her that I would not give that information out through email, and that I'd like to meet her at a park and let the girls play (maybe not so much her daughter, but you know). She agreed, and we're going to set a time up.
But now I'm also worried about the part where I need to sign a form in order to give her permission to do that. Off to google back ground checks..
When I was hired as a nanny by someone who wanted to do a background check, I signed the contract contingent on me having a clear background check/driving record.
I didn't give, and wasn't asked for, my driver's license and social security information until that point (my SS number for tax purposes). I did give my references and full name before the interview, however - I would think it would be pretty hard to do a reference check on someone whose name you didn't know, and I understand wanting to "weed out" the horror stories before you waste time on an interview.
(I have a teaching license, which requires a background check, so the two other employers I've had as a nanny decided to skip the background check after speaking to my references).
I know in the state I'm in now, you can get your clearances (essentially a background check) on your own.
You can go online and get the background check yourself, at least I could to work in a school in PA, and then I handed them the information from the background check. It was fast, got the information right then.
So you could show up to your interview with the background check in hand. I suspect you could forge one, but there might be a reference number or something for her to check and make sure its legit. I would find mine, but my babe is alseep in my lap.
Yeah, I would definitely meet her first. I don't even know why she would run the background check without meeting you. Those checks cost money! Surely she can't run one on everyone who applies.
If nothing else, go w/ your gut reaction...regardless of "her" asking for your DL#, if it feels wrong, it is.
As an aside, my advice is to NEVER give anyone your DL#. In MI, it is virtually impossible to change the #, as it is coded based on your name. I interned for a summer & the DMV liason told me that, in 30 years, the only person who ever sucessfully appealed was a nun who had a run of "666" in the middle of her license. Once your # is stolen, it's gone.
however, you said her kid is 14 mos old. it's possible she's never hired a nanny or anyone at all as her own personal employee. she may not really know "how it goes" either.
Originally Posted by thebarkingbird
total nod to all the cautions.
however, you said her kid is 14 mos old. it's possible she's never hired a nanny or anyone at all as her own personal employee. she may not really know "how it goes" either.
Yeah, after talking to her a bit via this is how it sounds. We're going to meet at the parker later, and I'll see how it goes.
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