May we contact (employee, job application, interview, application)

[Eevee17]

I forget the exact wording, but on every form I've filed out, there is a part to list all of my former jobs. Under that there is a part that says something along the lines of "May we contact employer" with a yes or no box. If you check no, do they contact them any way? I'll be honest, I don't want them checking because one job I quit and the one before that I was fired from. The one I quit, I'm not much worried about, because I've seen them say we don't give references on the phone. The one I was fired from I'm sure does give bad references.

[Diane de Poitiers]

I've wondered about that myself at times....I know with my department store job, I was told the only thing they could say was "Diane worked here from X date to Y date".

[Eevee17]

They can say whatever they want, but what happens next is up to you. However, proving they said untrue remarks is imo useless. They can say something like you were late. If you were late, even once, it's true. I know at the job that fired me they claimed I was "frequently out". However, I was out twice in a YEAR. One time hospitalized and one time with a doctor's note. The best is the time I was out with a doctor's note, they were trying to make me leave early the day before to not make everyone sick. I know this as this what they told unemployment. Most places won't tell you what they said. Unless, I guess you call yourself but it's really your word against their word. 

[blktoptrvl]

The whole point of the "May we Contact" box - from my point of view - is to let you indicate that you don't want the company you are hoping to get a job with to contact the company you current are working for... this is so the current company does not find out you are looking for a job and then give you trouble for being "disloyal." Happens all the time.

[Eevee17]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

The whole point of the "May we Contact" box - from my point of view - is to let you indicate that you don't want the company you are hoping to get a job with to contact the company you current are working for... this is so the current company does not find out you are looking for a job and then give you trouble for being "disloyal." Happens all the time.

I don't know why it's for all jobs. Usually you list 3-4 jobs. It's under all 4. Clearly, you're not working 4 jobs in a row.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Eevee17

I don't know why it's for all jobs. Usually you list 3-4 jobs. It's under all 4. Clearly, you're not working 4 jobs in a row.

I am assuming you are asking, "why is it on all lines of the job application and not just the first?" I would say that is related to the fact that (a) you could be working two jobs at the same time - a reason to look for one better job, and (b) forms are designed to work with the underlying database supporting the form and most relational table designs present all the same fields for each job.

[c114]

I've heard that if you check no for "May we contact," for your past jobs, the company might assume you have something to hide and frown upon it

[sandsthetime]

Originally Posted by c114

I've heard that if you check no for "May we contact," for your past jobs, the company might assume you have something to hide and frown upon it

I once heard a bizarre explanation from the employer's POV about the May We Contact question. Let's say you select No when asked about contacting your current job. This raises red flags for the prospective employer because they assume that when you're looking to jump ship in the future (under them), you'll keep it under wraps and they won't know. A lot of them don't like that and feel any employee looking for work elsewhere is betrayal and automatic grounds for dismissal.

Another lady said that she cannot understand why any applicant would answer No when asked if they can contact your present employer. Her reasoning is that her company will not contact your present employer until after an interview and you give them permission. She assumes every job applicant knows this and automatically trashes any app when the person selects No for any reason, current or past job. Glad I never worked in her department.

Honestly, I won't take a chance with it and I will always select No for current employer. You don't know the competence level of the HR person dealing with your resume. Many of them make mistakes when dealing with applications and reference checks.

[Serious Conversation]

If I am currently employed and am trying to leave, why would I ever give a prospective employer consent to contact my current employer? The ultimate goal is to maintain the employment that I do have.

[aweitzm1]

I always put no, but to also be extra cautious for my current job I never leave any contact info, i.e. email or telephone number. I also don't list my supervisor. I leave it all blank. For previous jobs I will fill it out because I do not care if they contact them.