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dxs's avatar

What should I say to this employer?

Asked by dxs (11721 points ) September 2nd, 2014

On Friday, I met with an employer who agreed to hire me for the job (we even shook on it). This job is through the school I’m at. At the time of the meeting, he gave me a list of hours that he’d like me to work, and I said I’d take a look at them over the weekend and make sure that they are compatible with my schedule.
We talked about identification for the I-9, too. I said that I had a driver’s license and a copy of my birth certificate, which are acceptable List B and List C documents. He said that because of an audit by the IRS in the past, he requires an SSN card (I didn’t completely understand what he meant). I said that my SSN card is misplaced, but I knew my number and could get a new card ASAP. Those are the terms we left on on Friday.
Today, I got an e-mail saying the SSN card documentation is a strict policy for them, and I would not get it in a timely fashion, so they hired someone else with the documentation.
I had just sent a letter to another job I was offered, saying I wouldn’t be taking it because I got this on-campus job. So I went form having 3 jobs to having 0 jobs.
There are many things I find fishy about this:
1) Why do they require my SSN card?
2) Why can’t I use other acceptable documentation, like my license and my birth certificate: those that I had avaiable?
3) If the employer knew this would be a problem, why didn’t they let me know right away?
I haven’t e-mailed the employer back yet, but I’m also not sure of how I should feel about this. Personally, I think it was a curveball, but I may have just not played my cards right.

Oh yeah, and as I said, this job is through the school…the school I’m currently attending…the school that is doling out $8000 a year to me for a scholarship and has already proved that I’m a registered US citizen. I guess they can’t give me money if it is earned by labor…

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9 Answers

chyna's avatar

First, would you feel comfortable contacting the company you turned down and saying something like the other job fell through and if you are still interested in hiring me, I’m still interested in working for your company? The worst they can do is say no.

It sounds like he got in trouble before by hiring someone whose identity might have been other than what they portrayed. So to protect himself, he can require whatever identification he wants.
The only thing you should do is be gracious so that if something comes up again, they will consider you for the job. Email them back thanking them for the interview and opportunity and that you would like for them to keep your CV on file.

zenvelo's avatar

Get a new SSN card as soon as you can. Apply today.

Go to the placement department at the school and advise them, just be straight forward like you were here. Ask them for suggestions or placements for another job.

About the guy who sort of hired you then didn’t, not much you can do now about that, getting pissed off will only get you angry and won’t get you the job. So chalk it up to experience, and move on.

dxs's avatar

@chyna Good advice. I guess it’s worth a try to e-mail the other company back. They haven’t responded yet…I wonder if I should wait or not. But no way am I going to thank them haha. I did appreciate the opportunity (I’d already thanked them for that when we met), but the meeting wasn’t an interview, it was just to schedule me. And I still feel that they threw me aside. I don’t even care to be considered for the position in the future.
@zenvelo I should’ve applied earlier for an SSN card. What was stopping me was the fact that I’m not in an area where I plan on being for much longer. I’ve met many times with the job service department here at my school. They have a website of job offerings, but time is running out for me.

Thanks for answering!

dxs's avatar

Gaah! I’m having so much trouble wording this e-mail to the other job!

SadieMartinPaul's avatar

This employer is ignorant of the law. You don’t need to show a SSN card. As you know, Form I-9 provides a list of acceptable documents. The specifics are listed on page 9 of

If you have a U.S. passport, you can stop there (List A). If not, all you need are your driver’s license (List B) plus a birth certificate (List C). You’ve already researched this matter and know this, which makes you much more informed than the employer.

If I were in your situation, I’d simply provide the text of requirements, along with sufficient personal documentation, and ask the employer to proceed. If the employer refuses and continues to make its own rules, I’d report the employer to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The whole point of Form I-9 is to verify that someone’s eligible to hire, not to impede a qualified person from getting a job for frivolous reasons.

dxs's avatar

@SadieMartinPaul That’s what I linked in the description—the fact that I did have adequate documentation, just not the ones they wanted. It adds to my frustration.

KNOWITALL's avatar

@Dxs don’t burn bridges. Get the SS card & move on. Some jobs require diploma’s, bank acct (for direct deposit), etc…

ibstubro's avatar

“I had just sent a letter to another job I was offered, saying I wouldn’t be taking it because I got this on-campus job. Gaah! I’m having so much trouble wording this e-mail to the other job!”

Keep it simple.

“It seems there was an unknown (to either party) scheduling conflict with the position I had accepted, and if you still have an unfilled position, I would appreciate your consideration.
I’d be happy to stop by and answer any questions you might have.
Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you,”

dxs's avatar

@ibstubro Amazing! I’ll work off that, thanks!

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