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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, what a freaking mess. I sure hope they offer you a job since they just placed your current one in jeopardy.

In all honesty, I would LIE to my current boss. "They pursued me and asked me to come in and hear them out. So I did."

[Anonymous]

Very unprofessional on their part. Like pp said I hope they make you an offer but I'd think twice about working for such a half assed organization

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very unprofessional on their part. Like pp said I hope they make you an offer but I'd think twice about working for such a half assed organization

I agree with this. I don't think most people indicate in their resumes that they are confidential; I think that is simply a given. I think you went above and beyond the norm by indicating on your resume that it is confidential. It is extremely inappropriate and unprofessional of this organization to contact your current employer without your permission. I would be furious if I were you. Good luck and I hope you find another position where you are treated with respect.

[Anonymous]

Wow, that is SO not cool. I'm so sorry, OP. Hope they hire you.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

This is highly unprofessional, but it happens all the time now. People are terrible.

[Anonymous]

Hiring managers do check references, and (often) will talk to someone other than the "official" reference that the candidate provides. My boss does that all the time, although usually not until we are otherwise ready to extend an offer. It sucks, but like a PP said it happens a lot, and is a risk you take by looking for work while employed. GL!

[Anonymous]

I had something similar happen with a federal job. The job contacted my supervisor at the time even though they weren't listed as a reference and I said to contact me first before speaking with them. Luckily my boss was really happy for me and I got the job as well but it's just awkward when you've not been given the opportunity to speak to your supervisor first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiring managers do check references, and (often) will talk to someone other than the "official" reference that the candidate provides. My boss does that all the time, although usually not until we are otherwise ready to extend an offer. It sucks, but like a PP said it happens a lot, and is a risk you take by looking for work while employed. GL!

But do they do that before you've even had the interview? That seems very cart before the horse to me.

[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.

What field?

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

::slow clap::

Way to screw over everyone who applies to your company, PP!

[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.

PP, if you are contacting current employers of potential candidates without their express permission and before you are at the point of offering them a job, you are being incredibly unprofessional. You are endangering the jobs of people applying to work for you. Please, please stop contacting current employers before asking if it is ok. It is NOT a common practice and it is incredibly unprofessional. Most people are not in the position of being able to be honest with their bosses that they are looking for employment elsewhere.

[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.

::slow clap::

Way to screw over everyone who applies to your company, PP!

Agree. It is really bad form to contact a current boss even before you interview the candidate. Sorry you need to "push through quickly." There's a mutual understanding to contact REFERENCES, not current employer.