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Prospective employer contacting current employer

I've never quite understood this.  When an application says "May we contact your current employer?"- what does this actually entail?  I don't want to say "no" and that be a negative thing.  I just don't know if they actually call my employer and what they may ask. 

Basically I don't want my current employer to know I'm actively seeking other options.

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Re: Prospective employer contacting current employer

  • Then say no, that you'd prefer that they not contact your employer.  I don't think that's frowned upon.
  • I always say 'no' to those questions.  I think they expect that answer anyways.
  • FWIW, once I put no and they asked me why I put no (I don't know if they can ask that or not, but I had no problem answering that) and I said 'because I feel my current employer would hold it against me if they were contacted and I did not receive a job'.  They seemed okay with that (they were even more okay when someone else who was from the same job as me said the same thing...).
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  • Oh and I should add, my case was definitely proved when they called them and the principal (I'm a teacher) dropped the f-bomb on the superintendent......awesome...somehow I still got the job!
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  • Basically I don't want my current employer to know I'm actively seeking other options.

    That is a very valid excuse, if they even question you on it.  I'd be willing to bet that 90 percent of employed applicants would say the same thing.

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  • I was so paranoid that I googled it, and someone on another site said that your chances of getting the position would "plummet" if you put "no" on that question.  I even went back and changed it on the application!  Crap.  I think you're all right though...I can't imagine why anyone would be ok with someone contacting your current employer (except to verify that you indeed work/worked there). 
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  • It's ok if you say no; a good recruiter/employer will understand.
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  • I've actually never understood this question.  Wouldn't it be pretty rare where somebody would be ok with it.  I'm thinking of maybe a situation where someone knew they would be moving and had already put in their notice and the employer knew they were looking for another job.  I'm really having a hard time thinking of another situation where it would be ok. 

    They're basically asking you if you mind if they announce it to your current employer that you're looking.     If I were you I'd put no.  They have to understand that

  • It's a tricky situation. Because at some point, if they want to make you an offer, they'll need to contact your current employer to see what your status is there. But you don't want them to contact your current employer at the beginning of the process.

    I have at times contacted an HR department and clarified; are they going to contact my current employer now or later? Often they'll assure you that the only time they'll do so is if they're ready to make an offer. I have also heard of some people answering "only if offer is extended" on that part of an app.

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  • imageDr.Loretta:

    It's a tricky situation. Because at some point, if they want to make you an offer, they'll need to contact your current employer to see what your status is there. But you don't want them to contact your current employer at the beginning of the process.

    I have at times contacted an HR department and clarified; are they going to contact my current employer now or later? Often they'll assure you that the only time they'll do so is if they're ready to make an offer. I have also heard of some people answering "only if offer is extended" on that part of an app.

    If this is the case, I should've just left my original answer, "not at this time."  They gave "yes, no and not at this time" for options.  I don't mind if they call when I'm going to be accepting an offer, but like you said not at the beginning of the process. 

     This is so helpful (this has been bugging me for a loooong time), thank you ladies!

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