One of the most commonly asked questions in a job interview “may we contact your current employer” is enough to make a candidate uncomfortable. Most job seekers don’t want their current employers to find out about their new job search.
The inner voice screams NO!!! But a no might hurt your chances of getting hired.
But what about the current employer finding of your new job hunt? Tough situation right!!
Let’s find out whether you should allow them to contact your current employer during the background check and the consequences.
This article will help you understand how to answer the most asked question about background check/reference checks
Every job application form has a column asking for references from a previous employer. The moment you provide the contact details of your ex-employer, you authorize the interviewer to contact them for a background check.
However, it’s absolutely okay to politely decline a request to contact your current employer. But wouldn’t that spoil your chances of getting hired?
The answer is no. every employer/interviewer understands this. Keeping a new job hunt secret is a priority for most job seekers. They wouldn’t want to put your current job at risk.
However, a no to the request doesn’t guarantee that they won’t contact your present employer. What if one of them personally knows your current boss/manager or colleague? Difficult situation, isn’t it?
Here is how to handle a “may we contact this employer” request.
That being said, here are a few tips to never land in a situation like this in the future.
We often have job seekers coming to us asking this question. Something didn’t go right at work, Their employment was terminated and now they are worried that a reference check will spoil their chances of getting hired again. It happens, poor performance at work, getting fired for doing something against the company policy, occasional layoffs, etc. there are hundreds of ways of getting fired from a perfectly fine going job.
I’m sure you have a strong reason.
So how do you honor this request “may we contact this employer”? If you were fired?
Let’s break down the whole potentially bad review situation for you.
Summary
It’s perfectly okay to politely decline the “may we contact this employer” request or not provide the references until you have secured the job offer. Most employers understand the risk and consequences. And no, it won’t spoil your chances of getting hired.
Always, have a few contacts ready to back you up. Also, remember you can not decline a “may we contact this employer” request for an employer you are not currently working with. And if you were fired, follow the tips.
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