Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Did They Ask for Your W-2?

The Wall Street Journal has an item today about companies who ask for W-2s ahead of making a job offer. It tends to happen more for sales people and other rainmakers, but the upshot is while you're not required to share the form, declining to is almost certain to end your discussions with a prospective employer.

Employers' Asking For a Potential Hire's W-2s Is Common in Some Fields [WSJ - $]

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"...declining to is almost certain to end your discussions with a prospective employer."

I can't say that I would agree that it would bring it to an end. But, it could make the conversation more difficult.

I ran 'hot and cold' on this when I read it in the WSJ. Then, reflecting on the many challenges I faced in hiring salespeople and wondering if they really did perform to the levels they said they did (Quota, salary, etc.), maybe it isn't so bad.

I see more vulnerability in sharing confidential information for both prospective employee (identity theft), and both employers - existing (competitive information) and prospective (having a non-employee's information).

Like you, I chose to make it today's blog Post for the day. Interesting topic.

Peter