Job interview today and was told they had already talked with my current company

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a job interview today for a job I'm well qualified for and very much interested in. Due to an un-diagnosed medical condition my work at my current job has suffered over the past couple of years. The medical issue has been resolved 100% (my company went above and beyond to help me as much as they could during this time), but for various reasons, I know it's time to move on.

I work in a very specialized field and didn't list my current job as a reference, but indicated that I would be willing to provide further references upon request. Right before the interview started, I found out that the person interviewing me knows BOTH my bosses and had already talked w/ one of them. I know I had a stunned look on my face, but decided not to say anything and move forward the best I could. I felt like I rocked the interview -- was able to answer all their questions, wasn't nervous, asked them good questions, etc.

I'm beyond annoyed and kicking myself for not indicating on my resume that my current employer doesn't know that I'm searching for a new job. Of course, my resume said "confidential" but I'm now realizing that was not enough.

What, if anything should I do? I'm guessing they would not have brought me in for an interview if they heard anything negative from my current boss, but should I do any sort of damage control? I'm concerned that my one boss might have mentioned my medical issues.

And, yes, I've learned my lesson and will make it abundantly clear for other interviews that everything must remain confidential.

Gosh, why would they even tell you? If I was going to use a backdoor reference this early on in the game, I'd try and keep it quiet during the interview, at the least.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP, that really sucks. I once checked someone's references, including their current job (they listed it as a reference and didn't check the box saying not to contact current employer). The reference was good, but later that day the applicant called me and said he'd been laid off. I felt awful! The fact that you clearly state you'll provide references upon request should make it clear not to contact employers without running it by you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I disagree with the other PPs. It is not unprofessional to do background and employment checks on potential candidates. That is actually a part of standard business. Whether you provide employment history or not, some employment history is available on-line. Confidential does not mean not to contact my employers, it means not to disclose any information in the resume. This differentiates resumes that are being distributed by the individual on a case-by-case basis vs those candidates that are posting their resume on job sites like Monster, etc and those that have publicly viewable resumes on LinkedIn, etc. What you need to include in your cover letter is that you do not wish your current employer to be contacted without prior consent. That tells them explicitly not to contact your current employer. If you failed to do that, then you have yourself to blame for not putting important information in your cover letter. Although most times you do background and employment history checks after a successful in person interview, if I have to work with a team of mixed people from management to technical staff to HR to vet a candidate, and I have a really good candidate coming in for an interview, who I may need or want to push through quickly if everyone likes the candidate, I may try to do background and employment checks before the interview. It's a part of the job. I will check the cover letter for special instructions and follow those guidelines.

It is crazy to me that you are able to justify this practice to yourself. Are you upfront with the applicant about this? I seriously doubt it.

[Anonymous]

OH. MY. GOSH. It never occurred to me that this could happen. The vast, vast, vast majority of employed job hunters have not told their employer they are looking elsewhere. PP, why would you want to jeopardize someone's job like that?! Ugh. So sorry, OP.

[Anonymous]

Incredibly unprofessional and thoughtless. I have been involved in hiring at many places, and we would never consider doing this. You can do internet searching etc. before offering an interview, but references should never be contacted until after an interview. Generally, the candidate should be given a heads up even then.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like most people agree that this should not have happened, but now what?

Do I need to say anything to my current bosses or just see how it plays out?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, so unprofessional!!!
It happened to my husband at the end of last summer, a company reached out to him about a job opening and under the philosophy of "don't turn down a job that hasn't been offered" he went to meet with them to learn more about it and hear them out. He wasn't even certain it was a good fit, but was a learning opportunity in his mind at the least. The interview went fine, but nothing else was stated about reaching out to references or talking with his current employer. But, the interviewer knew his current boss indirectly, so took it upon himself to reach out. Needless to say, his current boss was caught very off-guard, and not happy to learn this way hubby was talking jobs with others and took it to mean he was unhappy with current job and would be out the door for another job sooner rather than rather (which really wasn't true). The interview job never lead to anything, and low and behold, within five weeks husband got laid off by his current boss (a year ago yesterday!) and the reasons for being let go were quite lame IMHO. It was infuriating to say the least and really left us in a bind for a bit. He's employed elsewhere now, but was not a fun experience. Is /should the moral of the story don't engage people who reach out to you about job opportunities they have?...that seems sad. Departing comment from someone who's BTDT, please don't reach out to current employers on your own without touching base with the interviewee and giving them the opportunity to have the first conversation with their current employer...if the employee doesn't have that conversation, that's a different story, but be professional and take the moment to call or email them that you're like to speak with their current boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I disagree with the other PPs. It is not unprofessional to do background and employment checks on potential candidates. That is actually a part of standard business. Whether you provide employment history or not, some employment history is available on-line. Confidential does not mean not to contact my employers, it means not to disclose any information in the resume. This differentiates resumes that are being distributed by the individual on a case-by-case basis vs those candidates that are posting their resume on job sites like Monster, etc and those that have publicly viewable resumes on LinkedIn, etc. What you need to include in your cover letter is that you do not wish your current employer to be contacted without prior consent. That tells them explicitly not to contact your current employer. If you failed to do that, then you have yourself to blame for not putting important information in your cover letter. Although most times you do background and employment history checks after a successful in person interview, if I have to work with a team of mixed people from management to technical staff to HR to vet a candidate, and I have a really good candidate coming in for an interview, who I may need or want to push through quickly if everyone likes the candidate, I may try to do background and employment checks before the interview. It's a part of the job. I will check the cover letter for special instructions and follow those guidelines.

How are you getting consent to perform a background check before the interview? I have never heard of an organization doing this without a signed consent form. Or by background check, do you mean you're googling that person, in which case, yeah, everyone does that.

[Anonymous]

That's terrible behavior from them, OP. Sorry you're going through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the responses. Sounds like most people agree that this should not have happened, but now what?

Do I need to say anything to my current bosses or just see how it plays out?

What is your relationship like with your current bosses? It sounds like the interviewer who reached out knew them personally, and did it as a friend and not in a very professional capacity. In that case, anything you say could hurt you. For example, if you tell your boss "oh I'm not really looking to leave, just seeing what the market is like" your boss could pass on that you aren't very interested in the friend's company.... I might say something like, "I have been considering leaving, for XYZ reason, but would be happy to find a solution that allows me to stay here." For example, if you're leaving because you know your underpaid for your field but otherwise like your job, maybe you can work out a raise. If commute is an issue, maybe you can telework a day or two per week. Then, you open the door to improving your current situation and staying put, without saying anything that would hurt your chances at the other company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very common. I've never gotten an interview without my references being checked. And if they don't see my boss listed as a reference, they will contact boss too.

Wow! This has never happened to me. What field are you in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I disagree with the other PPs. It is not unprofessional to do background and employment checks on potential candidates. That is actually a part of standard business. Whether you provide employment history or not, some employment history is available on-line. Confidential does not mean not to contact my employers, it means not to disclose any information in the resume. This differentiates resumes that are being distributed by the individual on a case-by-case basis vs those candidates that are posting their resume on job sites like Monster, etc and those that have publicly viewable resumes on LinkedIn, etc. What you need to include in your cover letter is that you do not wish your current employer to be contacted without prior consent. That tells them explicitly not to contact your current employer. If you failed to do that, then you have yourself to blame for not putting important information in your cover letter. Although most times you do background and employment history checks after a successful in person interview, if I have to work with a team of mixed people from management to technical staff to HR to vet a candidate, and I have a really good candidate coming in for an interview, who I may need or want to push through quickly if everyone likes the candidate, I may try to do background and employment checks before the interview. It's a part of the job. I will check the cover letter for special instructions and follow those guidelines.

No one has outright said it so I will: you are a douche bag. I wonder how many people have lost their jobs because of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I disagree with the other PPs. It is not unprofessional to do background and employment checks on potential candidates. That is actually a part of standard business. Whether you provide employment history or not, some employment history is available on-line. Confidential does not mean not to contact my employers, it means not to disclose any information in the resume. This differentiates resumes that are being distributed by the individual on a case-by-case basis vs those candidates that are posting their resume on job sites like Monster, etc and those that have publicly viewable resumes on LinkedIn, etc. What you need to include in your cover letter is that you do not wish your current employer to be contacted without prior consent. That tells them explicitly not to contact your current employer. If you failed to do that, then you have yourself to blame for not putting important information in your cover letter. Although most times you do background and employment history checks after a successful in person interview, if I have to work with a team of mixed people from management to technical staff to HR to vet a candidate, and I have a really good candidate coming in for an interview, who I may need or want to push through quickly if everyone likes the candidate, I may try to do background and employment checks before the interview. It's a part of the job. I will check the cover letter for special instructions and follow those guidelines.

No one has outright said it so I will: you are a douche bag. I wonder how many people have lost their jobs because of you.

+1

[Anonymous]

Wow, OP, that sucks.

Honestly, I would stay quiet for now unless approached by your bosses. You don't know exactly what was discussed, and there's no need to wade into this until you either have a job offer in hand, or hear back from your bosses. I hope for your sake, the conversation was along the lines of "hey, I ran into (your name) the other day, and I was impressed." If/when your bosses approach you, I would definitely tell them you were approached by the other company - in this day and age, I suspect lots of folks are willing to listen to other companies before even deciding to go for it.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I disagree with the other PPs. It is not unprofessional to do background and employment checks on potential candidates. That is actually a part of standard business. Whether you provide employment history or not, some employment history is available on-line. Confidential does not mean not to contact my employers, it means not to disclose any information in the resume. This differentiates resumes that are being distributed by the individual on a case-by-case basis vs those candidates that are posting their resume on job sites like Monster, etc and those that have publicly viewable resumes on LinkedIn, etc. What you need to include in your cover letter is that you do not wish your current employer to be contacted without prior consent. That tells them explicitly not to contact your current employer. If you failed to do that, then you have yourself to blame for not putting important information in your cover letter. Although most times you do background and employment history checks after a successful in person interview, if I have to work with a team of mixed people from management to technical staff to HR to vet a candidate, and I have a really good candidate coming in for an interview, who I may need or want to push through quickly if everyone likes the candidate, I may try to do background and employment checks before the interview. It's a part of the job. I will check the cover letter for special instructions and follow those guidelines.

You are completely wrong. Don't you see that you could jeopardize someone's job? There is no rule to include not to contact current employer on cover letter. The practice is that you contact when you have permission to do so by the candidate.