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May we contact this employer at this time?

Q

Qacer

Platinum Member
I'm wondering. Let's say your filling out a job application. You still have a job, and you're just doing this to see what other opportunities are available at other companies. No one in your current company knows that you are exploring other opportunities. However, it does not necessarily mean that you are leaving your current company. You're just seeing what's out there.... and if the opportunity is right, then you may leave.

How would you handle this question on the application?

May we contact this employer at this time? Yes or No

As an employer, how would you interpret the answer to this question?


 
I've had two jobs. One is seasonal, so I can't check yes because no one will be there. The other was a little while back and there have been some management changes since so no one there knows or remembers me. Probably hurts me quite a bit when I apply for jobs now, but there's not much I can do about it. It sucks.
 
Prospective employers understand that in most cases people don't tell their current employer that they are looking for a different job. It is not abnormal to answer "no" to this question.

R
 
Originally posted by: her209
Ranks right up there with the "How much are you being paid right now?" question.
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Oh, you mean how they are probably going to do a credit check and figure out how much you're making anyways. A bullshit question to see how little (or how much) you believe you are worth.
 
I unthinkingly responded "yes" to that question, assuming that they would be discrete by simply asking straightforward questions to confirm that I wasn't lying about being employed. Y'know -- the types that a creditor might ask before issuing a significant loan or something.

I was wrong. Totally blew my cover. Damn glad I got the job, though I probably wouldn't necessarily have been fired from my previous one. It would've become unbearably stressful, however, in the wake of that revelation.
 
Originally posted by: Lothar
Do you have something to hide?
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Yes most people do. The current employer has no need to know an employee is looking for a job and allowing a prospective employer to contact their current employer pretty much breaches that.
 
My understanding was a tad differant with that question. To me that question tells the company you are applying for if you are in good standing with your current job. If you answer no to that question it gives the impression that you have a bad track record with your current employer. Maybe its just my messed up way of thinking though.
 
Originally posted by: darkrisen2003
My understanding was a tad differant with that question. To me that question tells the company you are applying for if you are in good standing with your current job. If you answer no to that question it gives the impression that you have a bad track record with your current employer. Maybe its just my messed up way of thinking though.
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That's how I used to take it, but now that i see these other posts, no seems like a legit answer.
 
I had one where I did check no and their third party references checking company called my employer anyway. They sent a fax asking about my experience there and surely enough, next day I get called into a meeting with my boss and the company owner. Talk about being put on the spot....I did get offered the job but I ended up taking a different job. Unfortunately it didn't work out very well at that other job though. Oh well.
 
For a current position I put No - in my interview if it was brought up I asked that they wait until I accept an offer, and have the offer dependent upon a good review from my current employer.
 
Most of the job solicitations that I see often state that all applications will be kept in strict confidence. Even though I work in an saturated field, the community in my city is pretty tight knit and you are never too far removed from "someone" who knows "someone".
 
No hiring manager should bat an eyelid about not wanting them to contact your CURRENT employer. It is when you answer "no" to former employers that flags go up.
 
ive always wondered what prospective companies think if / when they call my first employer. My boss no longer works there because he was fired in a company rift and the guys in charge there now never had any contact with me. Must be weird.
 
Originally posted by: BeauJangles
ive always wondered what prospective companies think if / when they call my first employer. My boss no longer works there because he was fired in a company rift and the guys in charge there now never had any contact with me. Must be weird.
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Why? They just talk to HR and get your employment dates verified.
 
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Lothar
Do you have something to hide?
Click to expand...

Yes most people do. The current employer has no need to know an employee is looking for a job and allowing a prospective employer to contact their current employer pretty much breaches that.
Click to expand...

What about other previous employers (besides the "current" one) the prospective employee puts under their work experience?
 
Originally posted by: Lothar
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Lothar
Do you have something to hide?
Click to expand...

Yes most people do. The current employer has no need to know an employee is looking for a job and allowing a prospective employer to contact their current employer pretty much breaches that.
Click to expand...

What about other previous employers (besides the "current" one) the prospective employee puts under their work experience?
Click to expand...

see my 2 posts above.

Saying no for previous employers sends up a red flag that you are lying about your employment history.
 
Originally posted by: darkrisen2003
My understanding was a tad differant with that question. To me that question tells the company you are applying for if you are in good standing with your current job. If you answer no to that question it gives the impression that you have a bad track record with your current employer. Maybe its just my messed up way of thinking though.
Click to expand...

The last time I was job shopping I answered 'No' to that question. It wasn't because I was in poor standing with the present employer it's because I feared the potential retribution should I not receive a job offer.
 
Put yes.
Your previous employer is barely allowed to say anything except the terms of your leaving the company I think.
 
Originally posted by: Legendary
Put yes.
Your previous employer is barely allowed to say anything except the terms of your leaving the company I think.
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But most people do not want their current work place to know that they are looking. I never put yes to that question.
 
Originally posted by: Legendary
Put yes.
Your previous employer is barely allowed to say anything except the terms of your leaving the company I think.
Click to expand...
They aren't even allowed to disclose that - they are only allowed to verify your employment there (dates worked)
 
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