Interviewing without current employer finding out

[Mears]

I have a job interview tomorrow, and I'm trying to decide how I want to handle references. This particular job doesn't sound terribly exciting to me, but if the price is right, I might accept it for a change of pace.

However, I don't want my boss to find out that I'm considering new jobs, so I'm not sure how to go about it. I wouldn't care if this place contacted him if I knew I would accept an offer they extended. However, I think it's unlikely that they'll meet my expectations. Should I just list co-workers? I think it's generally understood that you list your current supervisor, but I'm not seriously looking yet and don't want to create unnecessary workplace tension.

 

[mugs]

Well, they should know not to contact your current employer while you still work there. But it can't hurt to mention that they shouldn't.

 

[Eeezee]

List a coworker that you can trust not to tell your boss.

Or like mugs said, list boss but tell them not to contact him unless they're serious about hiring you

 

[RaistlinZ]

Yeah, just ask them not to contact your current employer.

 

[imported_Imp]

Ask them to not contact your current employer. However, this might backfire. I tried getting a second job earlier in the summer, and wrote "prefer you not contact current supervisor". When inquire upon, I said "cause I don't want him to know, and think this second job mught interfere with my current one". Well, about a day later I figured out that you can spin that around... Needless to say, I still have my evenings and weekends free.

Maybe it works better if you plan on ditching your current one... Still, it seems like you're covering your own as*.

 

[alkemyst]

Make sure you put not to contact current employer. Just make sure you have other references.

If you are caught you should be able to easily explain that you are just making sure you keep your options open and know what is a fair wage for your experience / position are.

In this day and age, it's usually the employee requesting the promotion rather than the boss just coming and offering it. Also a lot of times employers get outdated in what they think is a fair wage and even think they are over paying.

 

[krunchykrome]

About three years ago, I was working at this dead-end bookkeeping job. I had been there for about five months until I realized it was going nowhere and I wasn't gaining any good experience there. I ended up accepting a good internship opportunity somewhere else. But in the process of the interviewing, I came across a very snotty, young HR woman. I think she was on some kind of power trip. I remember she asked me if they could contact my current employer (keep in mind that I was still working at the old job). I told them "well, i still work there, so I'd rather you didnt."

We went on for maybe 5 minutes, back and forth. She kept asking why couldnt she call and I kept telling her. I could not understand how she could not get it through her thick skull that it would make things very awkward for me.

I dont know why she was like that.

 

[gump47371]

Most applications will have the option for you to ask them not to contact a past/current employer.

If you are giving them a resume, I have always omitted the contact information of my current employer.

 

[Feldenak]

When I was interviewing for my current job I asked them not to contact the boss I had at the time because I was worried about retaliation. They were very understanding and it all worked out fine.

 

[GasX]

It is understood that references can't be given from a current job.

 

[Nerva]

i just changed jobs, but my industry is dog eat dog, so the new employer understood the implication of calling my old employer. they settled for a pay stub as proof that i worked there.

if you need a reference, list a person on your level who wouldn't have any motivation to burn you. that is the best way to handle the reference thing.