Is it normal to ask for an Eircode on ajob application?

Pauliedragon

I was applying for a job today and I had to give my Eircode. Is this common? I'm just curious as to why they need my address. They already know the town I live in.

Mrs OBumble

Yes. It's one way of distinguishing you from the 2 other Patrick Murphy's who also applied, and less risky than using your birthdate.

Also if they hire you, Revenue require them to keep a record of your address. So it's good to filter out anyone who would have problems providing an address, up front.

daheff

i've seen this on some application forms recently. seems to be a US hr system asking for it. i generally make one up. its not necessary and they dont use it anywhere. they'll ask your full personal details if and when you get the job

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122582019#Comment_122582019

Yeah, or they will think "Well if he's not component enough to fill in an eircode, he's probably not competent for the job", and therefore you won't get it.

What is the point in giving false details in a job application?- Unless you don't want it.

Flinty997

I don't get why you'd give someone your CV and personal details, your work and education history all of which identify you in everyway. Then baulk at the post code.

daheff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593467#Comment_122593467

Maybe I don't want them to know where I live? Privacy and all that?

Some companies rule people out because of where they live. Or the house they live in. Plenty of crazy irrational managers out there.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595324#Comment_122595324

He said they already know what town he lives in.

The other perspective is do you want to work in a place with "crazy irrational" managers.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595324#Comment_122595324

Revenue require you to inform your employer where you live.

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595360#Comment_122595360

I think it's a fair point by the OP.

Might be a bias against people from the "rough estate" versus those from the fancier houses at the other end of town. Your exact address isn't a bit of information that is necessary for a job interview.

Flinty997

Fair enough, but I think if I disagreed with the application process, I'd be walking away.

Not I'm going to fool the bigoted crazy irrational people and get a job with them.

Because that's also irrational.

Do a foi request about the eircodes.

Slightly Kwackers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058364242/is-it-normal-to-ask-for-an-eircode-on-ajob-application

In the UK I gave my name and house number on the application form for a job.

I got an interview and one of the brains of the outfit explained that without a full address, they would not know how to contact me.

It wasn't as much fun as having the technical arguments when the Q&A session started, but it's worthwhile knowing that your intended company employs people to talk through their hats.

The other thing I did was to remove personal ID except for my name and address for box number adverts. I never once got a reply.

I often wonder how many are scammed through job adverts, a CV must be a con artists dream.

Flinty997

"... I never once got a reply..."

Seems a bit pointless no?

Pauliedragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593467#Comment_122593467

It was just a query I wasn't worried about it. My education history isn't on my CV as it's irrelevant to my industry and my work history goes all the way from Ireland to Australia and back to multiple areas in Ireland so identifying me through work history would be hard. If you read my OP I said I'm just curious.

Flinty997

It's an interesting question. They might do it because it's easy to ask for it, and they never thought if they should ask for it. They don't need it, but it's a useful for filter as so many apply who are not eligible or not within commuting distance of the job.

Not a great way of doing this, but you'd have to say it's insight into how that organisation is run and HR in particular. Either they don't know they shouldn't ask for it, or they don't care that they are asking for it.

To quote "...but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should…"

They could infer all sorts of things from People not giving it. Which also says a lot about them.

It's one of those questions like dob that I can give a fake out unless they actually need it. Then when they get hacked, they've very little of my information. Though they will have your CV and your email details.

niallm77

Would revenue need it for property tax purposes too?

Don't they deduct at source if you don't pay it voluntarily as a home owner?

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595366#Comment_122595366

And if they employ me then they can know my address. For an interview it's irrelevant and if the only way they can filter applicants is by asking for something which is totally irrelevant then they aren't a good company, especially when all job applications will have unique contact details.

I'd love to know why an Eircode is required for a job application? It's not necessary to know where someone lives when considering giving them a job, I could be living in Donegal but looking for work in Cork, and contact is done via phone/email these days. It's could be argued that asking for an Eircode on a job application is a GDPR violation, it's asking for too much personal information that's not required if you don't get hired.

LambshankRedemption

It's not necessary to know where someone lives when considering giving them a job

It very much is necessary. Companies get inundated with applicants from all over the world. I've worked in more than one company that got to the offer stage only to find the applicant didn't have a visa and needed the company's help in getting one. Having an address on a CV tells a company that you are in Ireland or in Europe, whereas "Name: John Smith, Address: <left blank>" could be any where. If you address is down as being in New York, the interviewer can be aware and may still consider you if your skills/experience match up.

In your analogy where you live in Donegal but are looking for a job in Cork, surely you would cover that fact in your cover letter, unless the role is advertised as being remote.

The question was, is it normal to ask for an Eircode. I would say yes it is normal to ask for it. No-one on this thread is saying it's required, but it's more convenient.

Under GDPR, an eircode is not considered sensitive data.

Flinty997

Well you could use someone else's address or eircodes that's very common. So it's not reliable in itself.

It's just companies being unthinking about their processes.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596404#Comment_122596404

I've had my address on my CV since I was 17. It's a common bit of information to be on one. The Eircode is a new addition to a persons address. I dont see the problem, and I don't think it is companies being "unthinking about their process".

Well you could use someone else's address or eircodes that's very common. So it's not reliable in itself.

Yes you could. As I said earlier in the thread, if you don't have the wherewithal to fill in the details requested of you, don't be surprised if your CV ends up in the bin.

What happens though if you get the job using someone elses eircode and they need to send you something?

Flinty997

People move between applying and getting the job. Or simply might move for the job having access to accommodation with a friend or family. I've certainly done interviews for jobs in other countries that I would have moved for.

Very common if you deal with a lot of address information.

csirl

I dont give my address when applying for jobs. Just give email and phone number. I live in a Dublin postcode that there would be prejudices against , so always thought it best to leave out. I grew up in a different area, went to two secondaries in different postcodes and third level in another part of Dublin, so would be difficult to say where I"m from by my education history (other than somewhere in Dublin).

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596522#Comment_122596522

Yes, I've done the same… I'm not sure what your point is…?

Again, the question was "Is it normal to be asked for your Eircode on a job application?".

The question was not "Do I have to include MY eircode on a job application".

No you don't.

If you are going to be staying with your aunty if you get the job you can include that one instead. I'd advise against just making one up like an earlier poster says he does.

No-one is going to be actively checking that the one you use is you. It's not part of a test. However, It could cause hassle down the line though if it is not correct.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596554#Comment_122596554

You asked what happens further down there line. My answer is people move. That's the point.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596697#Comment_122596697

OK, yes people move, and when people move it's common that they inform HR of their new address.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596553#Comment_122596553

I'm my experience is easily to read between the lines and connect the dots on about 80% of people.

That said with gentrification and increasing population with no knowledge of good or bad areas. I think location as a filter is a lot less applicable these days as it was in the past. Lot of people living in communal accommodation.

People are more likely to wonder if your commute is viable and even that is not their issue.

I still think if a company or HR is playing these dumb games or have daft recruitment systems it's a place to avoid.

Former Former Former

It's not that long ago that everyone's address and phone number was not only freely and publicly available, but also printed and delivered to every other house and business in the locality.

What's the concern here?

If you're a hiring manager and a guy either refuses to give an Eircode or gives one which subsequently turns out to be false, then you're going to think he's either an oddball or has something to hide.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596715#Comment_122596715

Most of our communications in recruitment are digital these days. I can't remember the last time it was postal.

People change their address, phone and email constantly these days.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596741#Comment_122596741

This thread has gone completely off the rails. The original question was is it normal to ask for an Eircode on a job application. Since then it has gone into conspiracy theory territory and should probably be locked.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595374#Comment_122595374

It is perfectly legal to discriminate against people who come from rough estates - provided that's not a proxy for halting sites or other factors (age, gender, ethnicity, disability, family status, etc … the big nine).

Companies that give a toss about their environmental footprint actively try to hire to minimise staff travel distance.

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122598834#Comment_122598834

Data protection guidelines, specifically Data Minimisation, state:

"Personal data should be processed only if the purpose of the processing could not reasonably be fulfilled by other means."

For your example, minimising the carbon footprint, the general address of the applicant; Town/Village/Borough, would be entirely sufficient. Eircode is not necessary.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122598834#Comment_122598834

Ive never encountered a company that gave a sh!te about where the person was living to reduce the overall carbon footprint.

In fact, my own employer who in the first breathe would say it is deeply committed to reducing its carbon footprint, in the next breathe is requiring people back into the office meaning hundreds of people queuing on the M50 every morning and for some commuting very far distances.

Getting the right person for the job is most companies primary focus.