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No guarantee for confidential interview process

By Andrea Wolf, Globe Correspondent, 2/15/04

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I recently interviewed for a position that would have been an excellent career transition for me. The employer had sent me a list of the individuals with whom I would be interviewing. I had worked with two of them in the past at my current employer, although I did not work with them closely. I thought the interviews went well. The morning after my interviews, my supervisor informed me that the company with whom I had interviewed had contacted her. I was not informed that they would be contacting my employer. The individual who contacted my supervisor was not looking for a reference. My supervisor also told me that the person who manages the department at the company where I interviewed does not like to hire people from my current place of employment because she does not like to be viewed as ''stealing'' individuals from her previous employer. Is this an acceptable position for this individual to take? Is it possible for a prospective employer to contact an individual's current employer without their consent?

It is unusual for a potential employer to have contacted your current supervisor, without your knowledge, to communicate that you interviewed for a position.

One might assume that interviews are a confidential process, but that is not the case. From a legal perspective, there is no law that prevents a company you are interviewing with from calling a company where you are working. A way to prevent this from happening is to state in a cover letter that you want a confidential interview as your employer does not know that you are looking for another job. Most companies will honor this request.

Your situation raises a number of questions. I advise you to reflect on the following:

• Why are you looking for work at this time?
• Why are you interested in working for this particular company?
• What transpired during the interview?
• Why would your supervisor disclose this information?
• How do you see it affecting your current job?

To read between the lines, it sounds like there are negative views on both sides. Both your supervisor and the hiring manager behaved in an irregular fashion and now you are faced with a difficult situation. I advise you to think about your interest in further pursuing the position and also staying in your current job. It may be time to move on.

Firm sensitive on shared information

My company recently laid off several people, including three I had worked with closely for years. Each of these individuals asked if I would be a reference for them, to which I gladly agreed. However, I later discovered that my company has a policy that forbids current employees from providing references. If an outside company or contractor calls for a job reference, the policy states that we must refer the call to the human resource department. Failure to do so can result in ''possible termination.'' Furthermore, our HR department will only validate the ex-employee's length of employment, job title, and salary, if requested. They will not comment on the person's performance. I was wondering if there is any way I can provide a reference for my talented former co-workers, without violating the policy. Could I say that the reference is ''off-the-record'' or that I am not allowed to provide a reference but that I can comment on my personal experience working with the person?

You have very valid concerns and positive intentions to be a reference for a talented coworker. It does seem like an unfair policy and understandable that you wish to speak ''off the record.''

However, your company has a stated policy and I advise you to adhere to it. Otherwise, you are jeopardizing your job.

From the employer's perspective, these policies are designed to protect the company. For example, your employer may have a concern that if you or another worker gave a reference that it would represent the company. If it were negative and hurt the job seeker's employment chances, that could potentially lead to a lawsuit. Because of an increased concern about liability, employers are more sensitive to the information they share and naturally more conservative.

Find a placement by networking

I have been employed in healthcare for a number of years and would like to change paths within the medical field. I have a BS and am pursuing work in the field of cardiac sonography/ultrasound. The problem is getting a clinical internship. The community college I would like to attend has a certificate program. In order to attend the student must get their own placement. The community hospital I have been working in cannot take on a student. The academic certificate program starts in the fall. I was hoping to find a hospital where I could observe or be trained two days a week to see if this is a good field for me. What is the best way to find a placement on my own?

I think you are right to want to observe a cardiac sonographer in a hospital before you start your certification program. That way you can learn the ins and outs of the field, ask questions, and be prepared to make an informed decision.

You ask about finding the right contact person for a placement in the field. I recommend the networking approach. Networking is a proactive process of developing relationships with people who can provide you with advice, information, and referrals. You can start by thinking of all your contacts beginning with family and friends.

Here are some more specific tips. If you haven't done it already, contact the person in charge of the certificate program to see if there are alumni who would speak with you and are working in the field. If you are comfortable doing this, ask for advice and suggestions from your current employer. Target professional organizations for cardiac sonography that may have membership lists. And try contacting your health plan.

Look for a good fit before taking a job

I have been laid off for three months. During that time I worked hard to interview and finally got three job offers. One job I knew I didn't want but the other two were neck and neck. Well, I took the wrong one. My new job is a nightmare. No one in the department gets along. The director never told the two people who report to me that I was hired and that I am a supervisor. The director has a lot of issues. No one in the two groups that report to him likes him nor are they motivated to work for him. I would like to call back the other place that I turned down. Is it wrong to call them back and ask to be reconsidered?

You are not locked into your situation. You made a mistake. That is unfortunate but these things can happen. This should not prevent you from reconnecting with one of the original employers who offered you a job. The key is to evaluate why this happened in order to prepare for good decision-making.

It is evident that you were missing some important information about the hiring manager and the culture of the company. I wonder if you jumped too quickly into accepting the position without understanding the ingredients that would make a good fit. What were the factors that led you to accepting the position? Did you do your research to understand the company, their specific needs and culture? During the interview, did you ask thoughtful questions to understand how your hiring manager operates?

Before accepting a job, it is vital to assess the fit, which points us to the topic of values. Values are the core principles that give us meaning and satisfaction, and they are strong guides in our decision-making. Most people do not take the time to clearly articulate those things that matter most to them. As a result, they muddle along and make reactive decisions.

You may ask how we can truly know the employer's values before actually working in the company. I think we can learn a lot by asking key questions during the interviewing process to uncover the employer's thinking on the subjects that are important to us.

A place to start is to identify your top values. You can find helpful exercises at www.jobhuntersbible.com. I suggest that you pick your three top values and think of questions you could ask to help you understand how a hiring manager is thinking. Also, with a greater awareness of the importance of values, you will be more keenly aware of observing and gathering information about the work environment.

Going forward, I suggest that you contact the other potential employer by e-mail and follow up with a phone call. Be straightforward and acknowledge that the job you took was not a good fit and that you made a mistake. I would also emphasize that when making the original decision between their company and the other, it was a difficult choice between two outstanding employers. Let them know that if there is still interest in considering you for a position in their company, you would welcome an opportunity to re-open your candidacy.

Andrea Wolf is vice president of career management at Right Management Consultants, a career transition and human resources consulting company.

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