A question for job hunters... - Democratic Underground

Gidney N Cloyd

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Wed Jun-04-08 11:23 AM
Original message

A question for job hunters...

How would you feel if you applied for a job, were almost but not quite YET offered the job because HR at the new job required that they first talk to your supervisor on your current job? Note that your current supervisor is not aware that you are job hunting.

As a job hunter, would contacting your current supervisor under those conditions make you uncomfortable?

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lizerdbits

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Wed Jun-04-08 11:30 AM
Response to Original message

1. Yes

Edited on Wed Jun-04-08 11:31 AM by lizerdbits

There's the risk that you would face some retaliation if they knew you were looking. Usual references aren't enough in some instances I guess. I used other managers in my department who were familiar with my work so the boss didn't know.

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Gidney N Cloyd

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Wed Jun-04-08 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. I'm actually the guy making the hiring decision. It's our damned HR department that

suddenly came up with this pinheaded requirement to talk to the candidate's current supervisor and I'm extremely sympathetic to the candidate's reluctance.

I'm wondering how common this sort of requirement is.

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khashka

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Wed Jun-04-08 11:36 AM
Response to Original message

2. Of course!

They should have asked if it was OK to contact your boss. SOP. Also, in many cases it's useless. I was a supervisor and I was under strict orders (as in lose my job) if I said anything but "Yes he/she works here since (date)." Or "Yes, he/she worked here from (date) to (date)". If I said anything more, good bad indifferent, I would have lost my job.

Khash.

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Gidney N Cloyd

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Wed Jun-04-08 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #2

4. (see also post #3) The candidate in question has...

...not yet allowed our HR department to contact her current supervisor yet. She's worried about retaliation. I'm worried about not being able to hire her because of this.

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khashka

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Wed Jun-04-08 11:59 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. Go to HR

Explain the situation. Tell them about her reluctance and why and that you think she's best for the job. Can they contact her previous employers? Or give her a trial period? They are being unreasonable. You should be able to hire who you think is best.

I worked in HR for awhile - some of them are assholes. Some are cool. You gotta deal with the right person. And talking to her current employer is BAD. Her fears are real. Most employment apps ask if it's OK to call your current employer. The answer is usually NO.

Khash.

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Gidney N Cloyd

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Wed Jun-04-08 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. We've checked her references from past jobs and there is a probation period.

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kay1864

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Wed Jun-04-08 12:22 PM
Response to Original message

7. Every place I've ever interviewed at was classy enough to NOT do this

Contact the current manager? Are you effin kidding? *Extremely* bad policy. And *not* the industry standard, at least not in white-collar jobs.

You're right, your HR rep is a pinhead. *Former* supervisors, yes. Current supervisor, big fat no-no.

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crispini

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Wed Jun-04-08 12:24 PM
Response to Original message

8. You are correct, I would talk to your HR department.

No way in Hades I would let a future prospective employer talk to my current boss. If I don't get the job, I'm screwed six ways from Sunday!

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