job application form question

[Linnet]

My dh is looking for another job. He has a few job application forms to fill in and in some of them there is a question which asks if they can contact the present employer. If dh says no to this is he less likely to get an interview?

He would rather say no as if he doesn't get the new job but they do references his present employer will know that he has been looking elsewhere and make his life a misery. But at the same time he is so desperate to leave the job that he is in he doesn't want to limit his chances of getting a new job.

any advice?

[BarkisIsWilling]

No, they shouldn't contact the employer pre-offer if he has indicated no contact.
Where I work we don't request references until a verbal offer has been made and accepted. This can be useful as sometimes, the candidate might have changed jobs (and so referees) inthe interim. Or sometimes even, the referees change.

[ElsieR]

Well, it's quite the opposite where I work. We systematically ask for references but only for the people we are planning to interview. Should DH contact these people and talk to them about it?

[BarkisIsWilling]

If it is a govt/local authority-type environment then they should not contact till afterwards. Having said that I have read on here that often contact is made nevertheless, in some organisations.

What type of company/organisation is it?

[Linnet]

Thanks for the replies. The jobs are in restaurants. I know that local government check references before as I applied for a job in my council and they contacted my employer before the interview but I'm not sure about restaurants.

He is concerned because the boss he has just now is quite spiteful and he's worried that the boss will give him a bad reference and then like I said if he doesn't get the job the boss will make dh's life a misery.

[flowery]

Perfectly normal and acceptable to put no contact unless and until offer of employment made. However if he thinks his boss will give him a bad reference will contacting him after an offer of employment actually make any difference?