Potential employer wants to talk to CURRENT boss as reference

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 5, 2009

Ive been looking for another job, and some places don't even ask me about contacting a current manager, most do. This one that I had, when i went for the interview, asked why i put on my application that they couldn't contact my current manager. I said b/c she doesn't know I am looking for new employment. They said, if you're the top candidate, we'll need to talk to her.

so i get a call a week later that im one of the top candidates and they want to talk to her. So i have to fire off an email and tell her that I am looking elsewhere. very hard. then, i don't even get offered the position! arrgh

Job I have already interviewed for last week, and am waiting to hear about, called and said that since they are seriously considering an offer to me, they want to contact my current manager.

I dont think its unusual, but I would hope that a coworker/charge nurse/etc would be a good subsitute for talking to a manager, if you had a good reason. Its also possible that you don't want them to talk to a manager b/c you're an insubordinate lazy butt who is one write up away from being fired... (not that i think you are-i dont know you-but saying this is a reason some ppl might not want manager contacted-and how does the new job knwo the difference)

elkpark · Nov 5, 2009

Telling the truth does not always happen when employers are serving as references. That is a misconception workers have because they believe that only dates of employment can be given out. Any "opinion" about your job performance is fair game for disclosure. Because they are expressing their "opinion" about your job performance, you have no recourse because it is assumed to be true and they can express any "opinion" that they choose. This was told to me by an employment attorney.

V. true. Just because most big employer HR departments choose to give out only hire/separations dates and eligibility for rehire, because it's safer for them, that doesn't mean that former employers aren't allowed to give out as much info as they like. I had one former crazy boss (I was fortunate that she happened, randomly, to like me, so I didn't have any serious problems with her) who not only fired one of our co-workers for no good reason (other than that she didn't like him), but continued to seriously screw him over after he was gone every time a potential employer called for a reference. She was v. cagey -- she didn't actually say anything bad about him, but she managed to subtlely convey the impression that he had been a real problem employee, just through her tone of voice, significant pauses, and the things she didn't say.

caliotter3 · Nov 5, 2009

V. true. Just because most big employer HR departments choose to give out only hire/separations dates and eligibility for rehire, because it's safer for them, that doesn't mean that former employers aren't allowed to give out as much info as they like. I had one former crazy boss (I was fortunate that she happened, randomly, to like me, so I didn't have any serious problems with her) who not only fired one of our co-workers for no good reason (other than that she didn't like him), but continued to seriously screw him over after he was gone every time a potential employer called for a reference. She was v. cagey -- she didn't actually say anything bad about him, but she managed to subtlely convey the impression that he had been a real problem employee, just through her tone of voice, significant pauses, and the things she didn't say.

I've read in more than one place that the methods of conveying negativity mentioned by elkpark are generally used by employers who want to blacklist a former employee without running the risk of getting themselves in hot water over their remarks.