Interviewers contacted referee even tho I ticked the 'do not contact my referee' box

[Messinthemorning]

Long story,bear with me: I went for a post within my corporation-internally advertised. Same payscale, different area. I didn't want my team/line manager to know in case it made things awkward naturally. I didn't get the job, which I accept as what happens if another candidate did a better interview. However, I have just found out (from a friend) that the interview panel contacted my manager, (my referee) as he / she is senior member of the corporation-i think they wanted to get advice on the interview process-but I explicitly ticked in the application form' not to be contacted before interview'. I think it was an oversight of the panel, I think perhaps they didn't realise he / she was my referee. Either way, I have now been left in a tricky position in that my manager knows I have been going for other jobs. Not only is this awkward but I also fear it will affect any promotion internally. Wwyd? Am I in a position to make a complaint?

You have every right to try to better yourself, and a manager who doesn't support you in that is no good, IMO.

I gave references for my job , and it backfired on the asker, as one of the referees I said " would you be my reference" sent me an email back saying " FFS I'll hire you. Why didn't you tell me you were looking?"

Thank goodness I don't work for a company like ABetaDad1 describes.

Mess it is unfortunate that you have an unsupportive manager, but I really don't think you have any grounds to make an issue of this. You could informally ask your HR department what the official company policy is re informing your line manager about internal job applications.

In my organisation it's no ifs no buts - you MUST inform your line manager that you are applying. HR have their faults but they would rightly take a very dim view of a line manager who stood in the way of an employee seeking promotion.

My organisation explicitly states that internal applicants should speak to their manager before applying.

^ this has always been the case in the various places I have worked.

Why did your friend tell you that your manager had been contacted? Isn't that a bitter unprofessional too?

ilovesooty quite!

beta I work in an exec level role at a MNC - I'm a functional head (not HR) but spend probably 20% of my time looking at employee engagement and how we can attract and retain the best employees. The work place you describe is not one that is familiar to me

There is a huge difference between being loyal to your staff and therefore ensuring they get the best possible opportunities and support and being loyal to a company.

Oh and I can guarantee you that there is not a less qualified man getting paid more than me and I can guarantee the same across my direct reports

I think from an etiquette POV it is polite to inform your current manager, although I can see how that can be an awkward conversation if you don't have a good manager.

When I moved internally I really didn't want to tell my line manager I was interviewing, but made myself do it as I could see the situation becoming even more awkward as time progressed. Luckily I was very confident in my ability to do the role I was applying for, as he wasn't intentionally rude but really tried to put me off going for the new role. He also kept telling me about the good parts of my current role and how he knew I'd progress well, which put me in the awkward situation of trying to explain to him that I didn't want to continue with a career in that department whilst also trying not to insult his career choices! he actually made me feel so low after our "chat" that I went home and cried.

All went well, as I got the job and am very happy, but I do think he handled it badly.

Sorry, how do you know you were discussed? I'm guessing the box you ticked was the one that says you don't want your reference obtained prior to you being offered the job. It doesn't sound like they asked for a reference for you, but someone spoke to your boss about the interview mechanics as he also has a similar role (you) in his department.

We would do this very informally where I used to work. We'd share aptitude tests, and good questions to ask. We might have a third person on the panel who has experience of the role we're recruiting for but isn't in our department (so maybe you run the risk of your boss being on the interview panel). In fact, I've had that, she wasn't my direct line manager but our department deputy who was the third person on the panel for the promotion I was going for in another department. Would have been very awkward if we hadn't both known in advance.

I don't think you can have any expectation of confidentiality on an internal application - isn't that box only relevant to external candidates (of which in this case there were none)?