Contacting Previous Employers Question

[Tck13]

I was fired from a job years ago and I wonder what their policy is on giving out information to potential employers.

I could get someone else to contact them discretely (posing a a potential employer) but what about just contacting them myself to find out what their policy is on giving out information to potential employers?

I'd like to know what they're going to say.

 

[Joffrey]

How many jobs ago was it? If more than three no need to list it. Anyway, in my experience not one company has contacted a previous employer/reference for a job application.

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by Jodum5

How many jobs ago was it? If more than three no need to list it. Anyway, in my experience not one company has contacted a previous employer/reference for a job application.

About 4 years ago and that job has some relevant experience with regards to current potential jobs.

 

[tj100]

Originally Posted by Tck13

I was fired from a job years ago and I wonder what their policy is on giving out information to potential employers.

I could get someone else to contact them discretely (posing a a potential employer) but what about just contacting them myself to find out what their policy is on giving out information to potential employers?

I'd like to know what they're going to say.

I think it depends a little on geography. In the United States, generally, companies don't really go 'on the record' with employment termination reasons - usually they'll only confirm dates of employment and titles (and maybe salaries).

In your case, I'd just call your former company's HR department and ask what their policy is. There's no reason they shouldn't tell you straight up, and then you can deal with it from there.

 

[texas_jack]

Call hr and ask. You have a right to that info.

 

[Douglas]

IMO you never really know for sure.

These days, for a variety of legal reasons, most companies won't give out much information at all. They'll verify dates of employment, and that's it. That's the stock response for 99% of HR personnel out there who know what they're doing. So above all, don't lie about the dates on your resume.

However, where it gets stickier is if they get to, say, your manager. If you didn't give them a contact name, you're probably safe, but if whoever you're interviewing with used to work there, or knows someone over there, or is enterprising enough to figure it out on their own, you may be in some degree of trouble... and I don't think there's anything you can do about that.

As someone who hires and manages, I can tell you that I do try to get to the actual manager and I try to ask probing, pressing questions. I'm looking for the warts. And I want to find someone who maybe isn't so guarded and extract that information. It's sort of like a game.

And when I get calls myself, although I always give a very positive recommendation, it's not hard to intimate when someone was not up to par even as you're saying nice things about them.

 

[Piobaire]

What Douglas said.