Thought it was criminal. If asked the question I would quickly and if possible secretly hit the record button on my phone and ask that the question be repeated along with audibly re-confirming the name of the interviewer as well as the position and company being applied to. Then contact Ginny Yeah, yeah, the US has recording laws. In Canada, non-government and non-police/military are legally allowed to employ personal recording as well as wire tap recording devices as long as one person in the conversation is aware of its use. The last detail being there to preclude companies recording information with none of the active participants aware of the recording taking place.
I wonder of those that have no issue with this behavior or accept/tolerate a mask of "another applicant was more suitable" after denying this request, do they often find themselves on the other side of the desk representing the company, authority, the abuser. I've been on the interviewer side but have reviewed such issue of what is acceptable with HR.
I will respond as the person who said "we decided to go with other applicants" I know that a company will not hire you if they don't want to. Maybe the hiring person didn't like your voice. Your tie. Whatever. While it may be illegal (which is another discussion) if you do not jump through and /or not willing to jump through every hoop they put up you are not going to get hired. You can be indignant if you want. Guess what you still don't have the job. Did I use indignant correctly? Kevin? Someone?
Yes, you did! I think even from that point of view, these companies are very shortsighted for not considering the liabilities it opens them up to. Any number of things in a private conversation, when viewed by a potential employer, could open them up to claims of discrimination. If I was being considered for a position, I was desperate enough to give my password, and then was turned down for the position, I would wonder if it was because I said I was planning to start a family soon, or I said I was a Christian, or I discussed coming out (okay, that one doesn't apply to me, but you see where I'm going with this) and would probably want an investigation into that. Granted, I would never give my password, but I'm not desperate for a job right now so who am I to say?
I know asking for the password is illegal. They will continue to look at whatever they can publicly. The question will change. "what would you say if we asked you for your Facebook login and password?" If the applicant hesitates the company knows they have something to hide. If they say I would say you could well that shows hey don't have something to hide. If they at no that's illegal we'll it doesn't help the hiring agent. If you are in an interview as getting these types of questions you aren't going to get hired in the first place. Your resume and first impression matters for about 90% of the decision. Questions during an interview are to judge your jars yet and how you handle yourself. They already know for the most part of thy are going to hire you or not. IMO moral of the story is social media will kill you.
Some people could certainly stand to learn this lesson. Especially the guy who whines about his life constantly on my Facebook. I really ought to delete that guy.
Granted I'm no longer in a position of being so desperate for a job. Actually I just switched contracts and was interviewing for the last six months but I'd still not provide a password. Course if my house was being listed then it would be different for me. That said, I've tested that I'm not publicly visible and can confidently state I don't have a Facebook account. After getting the position, I'd tactfully remind them, as someone that has been interviewer position, such questions are illegal and create a huge risk of liability. In the position of someone desperate for the job, I'd give them the wrong password then clean out my Facebook account, or confirm my true account is locked up tight and then create another. Ultimately it's not about hiding anything, it's about giving someone access to intimate information that is not that, an intimate relationship. I read somewhere though that IT positions tend not to be the target of such questions.
