Job application question: May we contact your present employer

On the job application and request for background check, the question ask if they can contact my present employer.

Will answering anything other than Yes raise any flags or have any adverse effect on my chance?

Please advise.

thank you.

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Comments

vCole

fredmoogie wrote: »

On the job application and request for background check, the question ask if they can contact my present employer.

Will answering anything other than Yes raise any flags or have any adverse effect on my chance?

Please advise.

thank you.

No, it's common that people ask not to contact their current employer. I always answer no to that question.

networker050184

I always ask them not to contact my current employer. They've had to look for a new job before and will understand the need for discretion.

jamesp1983

often you can tell the new employer to wait to contact your current employer until after you have left. Although, telling the new place to not contact your current employer at all is acceptable as well.

Everyone

I don't even provide a phone number for my current employer, or the name of my current supervisor for that matter. That probably wouldn't be very effective if you work for a small company, just the name would be enough to call and find you. However I've always worked for large companies, and I guess I'm a little paranoid and don't trust people to not contact my current employer even if I don't say it's ok to do so on an application.

cyberguypr

Everyone wrote: »

I don't even provide a phone number for my current employer, or the name of my current supervisor for that matter. That probably wouldn't be very effective if you work for a small company, just the name would be enough to call and find you. However I've always worked for large companies, and I guess I'm a little paranoid and don't trust people to not contact my current employer even if I don't say it's ok to do so on an application.

Good mantra. I also live by it. An oversight on a recruiter's end may have serious repercussions on you current job. Better safe than sorry. Besides, many companies won't provide any info at all on current or ex-employees so the whole contact issue eventually becomes pointless.

buzzkill

No way. I also do not include the company name. I have heard of recruiters, upon receiving a CV from someone, call up that person's boss to offer their services in finding a replacement for them!!

Psoasman

Everyone wrote: »

I don't even provide a phone number for my current employer, or the name of my current supervisor for that matter. That probably wouldn't be very effective if you work for a small company, just the name would be enough to call and find you. However I've always worked for large companies, and I guess I'm a little paranoid and don't trust people to not contact my current employer even if I don't say it's ok to do so on an application.

That happened to me at my last position. I had checked the no box for contacting my current employer, but they called anyway.