News and Politics Forum

Double Down wrote:

Obin Robinson wrote:

sure you may... after you hand me my first new paycheck.

obin

that's my thought.  it's not uncommon for persons to look for alternative employment whilst employed.  most don't have the luxury of quitting first then engaging in the work search and any contact with current employers will very likely result in firing.

EXACTLY!

in other words...

do you want to hire me or not?  if you DO then contact my current employer for sure.  if you don't then please don't bother them, get me fired, and make me go postal on your ass.

obin

I thought it was illegal for your current (previous, too?) employee to say anything about you other than to confirm your dates of hire and job title.  Do these questions not count?

VWVancouver wrote:

I rounded up when I had an interview earlier in the year Wasn't much though.

LMFAO Ditto

I applied for a position at another company years ago and specifically noted that my application be strictly confidential.  Within a few weeks I was called to the HR office for my exit interview because "we understand you're looking" :roll:  Good ol' boys network :nak:

lerker wrote:

Double Down wrote:

we're a 'satellite' office so our HR contact is the admin assist to the CFO.  she thinks her britches are bigger than they are so i have no confidence that if they call that she'll exercise discretion.  also, our company has a record of letting go those whom they suspect of leaving.

edit: you don't give 2 weeks, because they'll fire you upon notice then you've got a 2 week un-paid vacation

if they fire you, couldn't you collect unemployment for the term between jobs?  i guess you couldn't if you had another job lined up though...

Umemployment really doesn't pay a whole lot.

MiataMan wrote:

I just don't know how well it goes over, I guess.  Like I said, I would think a potential employer would want to talk to someone about your past employment record/work record.  :shrug:

Yes, of course they want to, but it's usually not in the applicant's best interest if he/she is still employed.  That's why they ask.

I think the only way I would check Yes would be if all of the following are true:

* You're only pursuing one opportunity (not just submitting your resume to every company under the sun).
* You're reasonably certain that you'll be offered the job.
* You have a good relationship with your current employer.
* You suspect your current employer might counter-offer to keep you.
* You talk to your supervisor and let him/her know that "an opportunity for career growth presented itself" (passively, not like you were actively LOOKING for another job) and he/she should expect to be contacted.  Don't let it be a surprise.
* You are certain that you won't be fired on the spot when bringing up the previous point.

If any of those are not true, you should probably check No.  And as Emily suggested, "Conflict of interest" is a good reason.

No way, no how.

They can talk to all of my previous employers other than the one where I am currently employed. I'm not about to tip my hand.

This approach has served me well.

My understanding of Pennsylvania law is that a prospective employer can only call your current or last employer and ask them to verify the dates you worked for them. They can't ask "Hey what kind of employee was Karl Lazlo?..."

They can only ask if you worked for them and from what time period. This is PA law so it might be different elsewhere.