should an employment application be kept confidential?

[confidentiality]

I applied for a position a few months ago, got a first interview but did not move onto a second. no big deal, naturally I had no reason to tell my current employer since I wasn't offered the position. Well, the potential employer ran into my boss and made it a point to ask If I am still working for them and stated "I just thought you should know she applied for a position with us" This all took place months ago and was a dead deal! what was the point in letting my boss know I WAS looking? this created some tension and I really didn't appreciate it one bit! Is there some sort of confidentiality breech here?

 

[Adorno]

I applied for a position a few months ago, got a first interview but did not move onto a second. no big deal, naturally I had no reason to tell my current employer since I wasn't offered the position. Well, the potential employer ran into my boss and made it a point to ask If I am still working for them and stated "I just thought you should know she applied for a position with us" This all took place months ago and was a dead deal! what was the point in letting my boss know I WAS looking? this created some tension and I really didn't appreciate it one bit! Is there some sort of confidentiality breech here?

I would conclude that the behavior from the hiring manager was unprofessional, but there is no confidentiality implied with interviewing for a job. Definitely says something about the culture of the place you applied for, though, so perhaps it's for the best that you didn't get the position.

 

[Harold falcon]

Definitely unethical. Not illegal and there's nothing you can do about it...

Unless, if you have the hiring manager's address you could pay for and give him/her a year's membership in NAMBLA or CLAW. Or maybe send a few dildos his way. Or a singing telegram dressed as a gay stripper. Use your imagination.

 

[papa kot]

What has happened to you was highly unethical. It may ruin your relationship with your current boss, but things are salvageable in the long term.

Many moons ago I was a young buck in the same position. I got nailed on a performance review for basically not showing loyalty to the team due to my lame attempt to jump the ship. My boss and I talked and things settled down with time. However, it was established that my career path with the current organization won't happen. I have no regrets.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Add to that an employer so unreasonable as to think you shouldn't want to improve your own situation by moving jobs.

 

[otc]

Yeah...employers don't really want to know that you are actively looking (as in "I am interviewing for every position I can find in order to GTFO of here"), but finding out you interviewed somewhere is no big deal. Maybe you interviewed somewhere and decided "Nah, I like my current place way better".

I mean hell, it often comes up in my reviews from people with an interest in my career (rather than just my contributions to the firm) that I should "know what's out there"

Still...dick move the way he did it..."I just thought you should know..." wtf?

 

[Fuuma]

Find out who the boss of that dickhead and let them know what happened and how it could discourage others from applying at their firm. Be sure to mention you're planning to let other people in your field know because you wouldn't want them to run into the same situation. If you're lucky he'll be sacrified on the altar of corporate image and you can devour his still palpitating heart while other power point afficionadoes cheer you on. Or something.