How Far Should a Job Screening Go?

SlashSquatch asks: "My sister is getting screened for a programming position with a financial firm. I was alarmed to hear she'll be getting fingerprinted at the Sheriff's Office as part of the screening process. Instantly I conjure up scenes of frame-ups and corporate scandals. I want to know, should this raise a flag? Would you submit to fingerprinting, blood tests and who knows what else (financial, genetic code, and so forth) for a programming position?"

if it requires latex gloves

[DaveCar]

then that is too far

I once had to ejaculate in a cup

[Anonymous Coward]

for a job interview, well, I think it was a job interview, I mean the guy in the alley gave me $50 to watch. That makes it a job interview, right? He wanted to know if I could make smalltalk with a lisp then hack my python till it spewed Java. that sounds like a tech job doesn't it?

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Re:if it requires latex gloves

[LinuxGeek]

I think they were referring to a more goatse like interview. Run. Like. Hell.

Re:Ummmm.... No.

[danbert8]

I got finger printed working for my local church. It's not that unreasonable to check your background. You wouldn't want to be programming with a muderer, or someone that throws chairs would you?

Re:Sometimes,yes

[Otter]

If you're a programmer in a financial services firm, you might be in a position to backdoor systems for financial gain. I can see why they'd want to make sure you're not a known criminal.

...and if they just went by name, they might hire the wrong Michael Bolton!

How far?

[rlp]

I'd be concerned when they ask "Do you think you're special, Mr. Anderson?"

Great point!

[MooseTick]

"I understand that employers feel they need to protect themselves but they shouldn't be so paranoid as to limit their employee pool to only the financially stable, mentally stable and law abiding."

Companies should hire more people who can't handle basic finance, are mentally unstable, and known to break laws. I'd definately like to work at a place like that!

Re:Human Resources..

[Rob the Bold]

I can even understand pulling your credit report as part of the process, someone who is bad with money is probably more likely to steal shit from their employer.

"Lisa, a guy who's got lots of ivory is _less_ likely to hurt Stampy than a guy whose ivory supplies are low."

Re:Ummmm.... No.

[rts008]

Besides, having seen some of the keyboards I've been exposed to in different jobs....how do they get through all of that crap to get fingerprints?

Forensic lab tech1: 'We've got the results analysed...
Forensic lab tech2 '...and it's definately Mountain Dew, Cum Stains, Red Bull, and...
Forensic lab tech1: ...no shit, cheezy poof powder! Oh! Fingerprints?...Uhmmm...
Forensic lab tech2: ....it could be anywhere from one demented asshole, to three million high-turnover, disgruntled employees!?!
Forensic lab tech1: 'Basically, we need more data to pin this down...'
Forensic lab tech2: 'Ah, yeah...Hmmm?...which server had that pr0n directory on it?
Forensic lab tech1: 'Sounds like a plan...you grab the Mountain Dew, and I'll grab the cheezy poofs!

Re:ever seen Superman 3 or Office Space??

[91degrees]

They let her go but everyone was thinking "what is she trying to hide?"

Wow. She was lucky to get out of there at the start. I bet she'd have hated to find out she was working for a company staffed entirely by judgemental jerks after she'd been there long enough to find out.

Re:Ummmm.... No.

[Anonymous Coward]

I got finger printed working for my local church.

That's so they can compare your prints against those they pull off the buttocks of altar boys, Father.

Re:Part of the TERRORtory

[Bastardchyld]

It wouldn't be /. if we didn't have 4 different people spouting out 4 different statistics that were rapidly pulled out of entirely different rectums.

Props to packetmon for actually citing his statistic.

Re:if it requires latex gloves

[ThatsNotFunny]

unless... of course... those employees know where to score me some mad chronic... for my, um... glaucoma.

Re:Ummmm.... No.

[drix]

Pawns? Was your dad a 19th century absentee landlord? Yeesh. No sé si de verdad les llamaras peones, pero .. joder.

Re:Great point!

[sharkey]

Perhaps SCO is hiring?