[Anonymous]

At what stage will a prospective employer contact my current employer for job verification? Will they tell us before contacting? I work for a small company and do not want my current employer to know that I am looking for jobs? Based on your experiences did your current employer receive any job verification call?

[Anonymous]

I just had my last day at a small accounting firm. When I was interviewing, they specifically asked if they could contact my current employer and I said no. I didn't want to prematurely end my current position if this didn't work out. Most places are understanding of that. In my new position, they had all the new hire requirements listed out and said that you may not want to tell your current employer until you passed all phases. Some employers may wonder what you are hiding, but in my experience, most are understanding that you still need a paycheck if this interview doesn't work out.

[Anonymous]

I just had my last day at a small accounting firm. When I was interviewing, they specifically asked if they could contact my current employer and I said no. I didn't want to prematurely end my current position if this didn't work out. Most places are understanding of that. In my new position, they had all the new hire requirements listed out and said that you may not want to tell your current employer until you passed all phases. Some employers may wonder what you are hiding, but in my experience, most are understanding that you still need a paycheck if this interview doesn't work out.

[Lindrobe]

I had an employer that insisted that they had to talk to my employer AFTER they had already offered me the job and I put in my notice. It made for a really bad situation because my employer said that it was against company policy to discuss any employee. It was the most backwards, awkward situation ever.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Lindrobe]

I had an employer that insisted that they had to talk to my employer AFTER they had already offered me the job and I put in my notice. It made for a really bad situation because my employer said that it was against company policy to discuss any employee. It was the most backwards, awkward situation ever.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[mla1169]

Usually on a job application they ask if they can contact your current employer, I usually write in yes, upon accepted job offer. Make sure you know your current employers policy beforehand. Some will refuse outright, some will only verify dates and job title.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Usually on a job application they ask if they can contact your current employer, I usually write in yes, upon accepted job offer. Make sure you know your current employers policy beforehand. Some will refuse outright, some will only verify dates and job title.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I just accepted an offer, but they only contacted my current employer more than a week after I gave my notice (and accepted the offer). Made things a lot less awkward because I was able to notify my references that they might be contacted.

[Anonymous]

I just accepted an offer, but they only contacted my current employer more than a week after I gave my notice (and accepted the offer). Made things a lot less awkward because I was able to notify my references that they might be contacted.

[Anonymous]

I always mark or request that they not contact my current employer because if your employer knows you're looking for a job, your current job will go downhill fast! This is common and understood. If you were in a situation where your current employer knew you were looking and wanted to help you, that'd be different, but that's rare too (like when I was looking for my first accounting job, my “college job” knew that I would be looking and my boss offered various times to assist me in any way that he could).

As others have said, your current employer is also limited in what s/he can say. My general understanding is that legally they're not allowed to say anything that would hamper your ability to get a job, so many employers adopt a policy of saying nothing good or bad, just verifying titles and dates and nothing more.

[Anonymous]

I always mark or request that they not contact my current employer because if your employer knows you're looking for a job, your current job will go downhill fast! This is common and understood. If you were in a situation where your current employer knew you were looking and wanted to help you, that'd be different, but that's rare too (like when I was looking for my first accounting job, my “college job” knew that I would be looking and my boss offered various times to assist me in any way that he could).

As others have said, your current employer is also limited in what s/he can say. My general understanding is that legally they're not allowed to say anything that would hamper your ability to get a job, so many employers adopt a policy of saying nothing good or bad, just verifying titles and dates and nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Generally, when you fill out an application it asks if it can contact your current employer during the application/interview process (so that you won't get fired when you don't even have an offer).

However, regardless of what you click. Once you accept the job, they will call as part of your background check/employment verification – to make sure you didn't lie your butt off in the interview or on the resume.

Also, I believe that the full-on employment verification check almost never happens until you've accepted a job offer already. If you have references, they may check those before extending the offer – but employment check typically comes after the fact.

For me, after they interviewed me they said they liked me alot, verified that I wanted to work for them, but wanted to check references real quick. They checked references, I rec'd the official job offer and accepted. Then I filled out the standard background check form – and they checked all that employment info & stuff after I had already started.

[Anonymous]

Generally, when you fill out an application it asks if it can contact your current employer during the application/interview process (so that you won't get fired when you don't even have an offer).

However, regardless of what you click. Once you accept the job, they will call as part of your background check/employment verification – to make sure you didn't lie your butt off in the interview or on the resume.

Also, I believe that the full-on employment verification check almost never happens until you've accepted a job offer already. If you have references, they may check those before extending the offer – but employment check typically comes after the fact.

For me, after they interviewed me they said they liked me alot, verified that I wanted to work for them, but wanted to check references real quick. They checked references, I rec'd the official job offer and accepted. Then I filled out the standard background check form – and they checked all that employment info & stuff after I had already started.

[fuzyfro89]

I don't really understand the whole “references” thing. If they ask you for references, won't you obviously give them people you think have a positive impression of you? What good does that really do for them?

Can anyone give a firsthand account, as in if YOU have hired someone before and how you view references? Are they actually useful? Am I missing something really obvious?

[fuzyfro89]

I don't really understand the whole “references” thing. If they ask you for references, won't you obviously give them people you think have a positive impression of you? What good does that really do for them?

Can anyone give a firsthand account, as in if YOU have hired someone before and how you view references? Are they actually useful? Am I missing something really obvious?

[Anonymous]

How do you not understand references? Hiring managers can take them with a grain of salt for reasons u alluded to, but if for example all of your former direct supervisors from all past positions are on there, it clearly makes a good impression no? For me, when the interviewers would ask stuff like “what are the three things your former mgr would say bout u?” I'd say, I believe he'd say x, y, and z. But you can reach out to him yourself if you'd like. Both my mgr and senior on my main client are on my professional references list. BOOM, looks good. Now if u just have a bunch of former coworkers and teachers on there, it doesn't mean as much.

[Author]

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