Is it acceptable for a recruiter to ask for my date of birth? Am I jeopardizing my chances of getting an interview by being hesitant to provide it?
Update: It’s been two weeks, and I haven’t heard anything—I’m feeling a mix of emotions, primarily disappointment 😂😞.
To give you some context, this is a recruiter from the EU, so they might have different rules and regulations. We had a positive initial screening call, which I really enjoyed, and the recruiter seemed very friendly. However, they later reached out to ask for my date of birth, stating it was necessary to complete my application in their system.
I was a bit wary about sharing that information and asked if they needed it to meet a specific age requirement for the position, but they assured me that wasn’t the case. While I eventually provided my date of birth, I made sure to communicate my discomfort.
Now I’m wondering if I hurt my chances of moving forward in the interview process by expressing my hesitation. Did I give the recruiter the impression that I didn’t trust them? Could my age potentially be a factor against me for this corporate role?
RCadmin
It’s understandable to feel uneasy about sharing personal information like your date of birth, especially when it comes to job applications. In the EU, there are regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that protect candidates’ personal information, so recruiters should only request information relevant to the hiring process. While it is not uncommon for recruiters to ask for a date of birth for administrative purposes, it should never be used to discriminate against you based on age.
As for your concerns about whether your hesitation impacted your chances of getting interviewed, it’s hard to say definitively. Recruiters are used to candidates having different comfort levels with sharing personal information, and your openness about your hesitation could even reflect positively on your communication skills. It’s also worth noting that ghosting is unfortunately common in the recruitment process and can happen for various reasons unrelated to your candidacy.
Overall, try not to dwell on the situation too much. If you’re still interested in the position, consider following up with the recruiter for an update after a couple of weeks. This shows your continued interest and can provide you with closure. Remember, the interview process can be unpredictable, and sometimes things might not work out despite your qualifications and effort. Keep applying elsewhere and stay positive!