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References contacted before I said it was ok..........

14 replies

TeaAndBiscuit · 07/03/2008 21:26

Hello, if anyone could give me advice I would be grateful.

I have an interview next week and had to provide 2 referees, all standard stuff.

I gave my present employer as one reference but specifically asked that it wasn't taken up until post interview.

I found out today that they have already contacted my boss! He obviously was unaware that i was looking for alternative employment. My boss has been great about it, but even so, it could make my position difficult.

So do I say anything at the interview? It's a public sector job btw, unrelated to my current role.

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llareggub · 07/03/2008 21:32

What do you want to achieve? How much do you want the job? It is quite a cavalier way to treat a prospective employee and would make me question whether or not I really wanted to work there.

How do you feel about them now? I think I would wait until an offer of employment and mention it casually to my prospective line manager. If my comment was met with horror and apologies then I think I'd be satisfied. If however my comment was met with indifference and puzzlement I'd turn down the offer and look elsewhere.

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flowerybeanbag · 07/03/2008 21:33

That's not good at all.

Do you know who took up the references? Presumably if they have contacted your boss he'll be able to tell you who it was, your interviewer or a dopey HR person getting carried away and not reading things properly.

It's done now and I wouldn't want it to detract from the interview. If it was nothing to do with the person/people interviewing you you could consider mentioning it at the end in a 'just to let you know' way. 'I was a bit disappointed that my reference was contacted without my permission before the interview, I'm sure it was just a mistake and fortunately my boss is being quite good about it, but I thought I ought to let someone know in case it happens again.'

Or something like that?

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flowerybeanbag · 07/03/2008 21:37

I'd be very surprised if it was a deliberate decision to go against your wishes, it's more likely to be a bit of a cock up I imagine.

It is rubbish but I probably wouldn't turn down the job over it unless it's another in a series of things that are causing you to have misgivings.

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llareggub · 07/03/2008 21:37

It was probably one of those big shared service centres with standard processes and a lack of thinking applied by the HR administrator.

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TeaAndBiscuit · 07/03/2008 21:40

Thanks for your replies.

The job is for a TA, I would love to do it. I don't have any experience so I am amazed that I've got an interview.

I'm a bit worried that if I don't get the job that my future with my present employer will be affected.

My DP says that I should tell them how unproffesional they have been.

I am peed off that they did this! Everyone at work now knows I'm looking for another job!!

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flowerybeanbag · 07/03/2008 21:40

Sounds v probable!

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flowerybeanbag · 07/03/2008 21:42

V probable was for llareggub obviously..

If your boss was fine with it I would try not to worry about future with current employer. Not a lot anyone can actually do now anyway, irritating though it is.

I agree with your DP that someone needs to know what happened. Find out whether it was indeed a dappy HR person, much more likely than your interviewer, and just make sure you tell whoever at some point to avoid repeats.

As an aside, if your boss was contacted for a reference for you, why has he/she told everyone else...? That's not particularly professional either.

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TeaAndBiscuit · 07/03/2008 21:47

Flowerbeenbag - I'd emailed my line manager to ask for a shift change, she was whinging about it in the office, my boss overheard her and said ' Oh, that's hr interview day is it?' (If i knew how to add a sceptical face, then this would e the place fr it)

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