Why the heck can't potential employees ask potential employers for references? (private, weather)

[LongtimeBravesFan]

If a friend of mine was applying for a job with my company and asked my opinion, I'd tell him exactly what I thought about them, good and bad.

If my company asked me to talk to potential employees I didn't know, I'd toe the party line. They aren't going to let you talk to someone who'd badmouth the company anymore than you list your worst enemy as a reference.

You are certainly witihn your right to ask the interviewer to talk to employees about the company. With 10% unemployment, they will likely say no and toss your resume in the trash and hire the next guy on the list.

[mash potato]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

have you considered how to implement such a plan?

Originally Posted by mash potato

for anyone else who might want to also address the need for what I'm proposing or perhaps even have an idea about making it an accepted regular practice.

Originally Posted by STT Resident

you could certainly create a website such as you mentioned .

Actually, that idea was from poster 313weather! The only issue I see with that is the whole world would see it and that would be a negative side effect that was unintended. It certainly is a good idea though.

Originally Posted by STT Resident

Taking it to the government level would of course entail much more work. I imagine the first step might be to put all your thoughts into a presentable format (like a formal Business Plan) and then feel out your state labor representatives to win their support. The next step I suppose would be to enlist the support of your state Senator in order to bring it to the House.

Those are very good ideas!

Originally Posted by LongtimeBravesFan

If a friend of mine was applying for a job with my company and asked my opinion, I'd tell him exactly what I thought about them, good and bad.

Yes, you would because you would have no reason to fear for your job if you did have something negative to say.

Originally Posted by LongtimeBravesFan

If my company asked me to talk to potential employees I didn't know, I'd toe the party line.

So would I!

Originally Posted by LongtimeBravesFan

They aren't going to let you talk to someone who'd badmouth the company anymore than you list your worst enemy as a reference.

I'm not taking about references, I'm talking about calling an employer's previous employees. Which would be the same as employers calling the list of employers on an applicants resume or job application. That's the difference.

Originally Posted by LongtimeBravesFan

With 10% unemployment, they will likely say no and toss your resume in the trash and hire the next guy on the list.

Because they have that right at this point in time. That should be changed. Women weren't always able to vote. Someone thought that needed to change, and it did!

[lovetheduns]

Originally Posted by mash potato

I'd like to see the employer list of past employees become a requirement regardless of who needs who! There's a lot of requirements in existence right now, what's one more badly needed one?

Then someone should also create a website where employers can post about their previous employees! One little problem with this is that it all becomes public. Whereas a phone call is private. I appreciate the idea though.

Huh no?

Because as I said before I would NEVER allow my name to be on a published list used by employer or previous employer. There are smattering of privacy issues there. And this goes for employers that I have loved and enjoyed working for in my career.

If you are so uber intersted-- use Linkedin-- you can find employees that way.. those who publish their profiles publicly.

Get off of your tail and find the info yourself. It is really simple.

[mash potato]

Originally Posted by lovetheduns

Because as I said before I would NEVER allow my name to be on a published list used by employer or previous employer.

How about if your name became just a number for privacy reasons?

Originally Posted by lovetheduns

There are smattering of privacy issues there.

What, and the employee loses all privacy when they work for someone? Is that not a two way street?

Originally Posted by lovetheduns

If you are so uber intersted-- use Linkedin-- you can find employees that way.

Let's let employees hunt and peck over there on linkedin too! They get no contact information from employees, but can only go to linked in and hope to find what they're looking for.

Originally Posted by lovetheduns

those who publish their profiles publicly.

Not everyone has time to establish a linked in profile or maybe they don't have internet.

Originally Posted by lovetheduns

find the info yourself...

...Employers !

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by mash potato

Actually, that idea was from poster 313weather! The only issue I see with that is the whole world would see it and that would be a negative side effect that was unintended. It certainly is a good idea though.

Those are very good ideas!

Well then, go to it and get the ball rolling. Who knows, in a few years time there may well be a new employee act on the books which will be known as the "Mash Potato U.S. Employee Act # ****".

[mash potato]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

in a few years time there may well be a new employee act on the books which will be known as the "Mash Potato U.S. Employee Act # ****".

Props to you on the naming of the bill!

[Z3N1TH 0N3]

Originally Posted by mash potato

Potential employers certainly check potential employees' stories by calling their past employers. Shouldn't it work both ways? Shouldn't a potential employee check potential employers' stories by calling past employees?

Glassdoor.com

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by mash potato

IOne little problem with this is that it all becomes public.

Ummm, that's the point.

Originally Posted by mash potato

Whereas a phone call is private.

There's nothing private about sharing an employee's personal information with a third party.

[drsmiley06]

I said that to my board of directors one time and they looked at me like I was weird. They for some reason felt that it wasn't necessary and how dare you ask us that, blah blah blah. Yep, it does work both ways and some businesses will find out the hard way soon enough.

[mash potato]

Originally Posted by mash potato

Let's let employees hunt and peck over there on linkedin too!

That should be employers.

Originally Posted by 313Weather

that's the point.

Then I'm looking at it differently than you.

Originally Posted by 313Weather

There's nothing private about sharing an employee's personal information with a third party.

Who would the third party be?

Originally Posted by drsmiley06

I said that to my board of directors one time and they looked at me like I was weird. They for some reason felt that it wasn't necessary and how dare you ask us that, blah blah blah. Yep, it does work both ways and some businesses will find out the hard way soon enough.

Wait, which comment or question were you responding to?