Employers/HR people, please answer a question!

[dontticklethetoad]

Posting for traffic!

When someone applies for a job and marks the 'you may not contact my current employer prior to interview' box, does this make them a less appealing candidate?

I realise it probably depends on how good the application is as a whole, but just curious!

No, I don’t think so at all. It would make zero difference in my experience. It’s standard in the main and it’s what I said when I applied for my current job. Only exception would for internal applicants when i would expect people to have talked to their manager as a matter of courtesy.

Not at all. I wouldn't dream of contacting references until I was at the point of making a job offer.

Sorry, I'm not an HR person, but doesn't everyone who is currently employed and not on notice tick that box? It's typical not to want your employer to know you're looking for another job.

No, perfectly understandable that you wouldn’t want your current employer to know

No it doesn't

I’m not an HR person, but I do recruit for my organisation.

I would expect this to be honest - it’s absolutely normal to not wsbtbyour employer knowing you’re looking for a new job.

Makes no difference at all. Tick the box!

In teaching, we request references before interviewing so if you ticked the box, no interview! ( That's because your current employer has to give you a day off to attend the interview so will already know you are applying!)

Is this a school job?

IME, most employers won't waste their time asking for references unless they have selected the candidate but schools are supposed to get references before interview per Keeping Children Safe in Education

Interesting! Thanks for all the replies.

It is a school based role, but pastoral rather than teaching.
I do understand the need to get the references, but surely to cut down on admin it would be easier to say that if you're not prepared to give a pre interview reference then do not apply?

I have had applied for four different jobs/schools and had an interview for two.
Typically the two I really want I haven't heard back from.

There is no way I could consent to a pre interview reference, my employer would be very difficult about it

I work in healthcare. Totally normal in my experience. Doesn't make you look shady!!!

I would guess it depends on how many people apply.
If I had lots of people apply, I'd be looking for ways to short list quickly and tbh that would be one. (For a school role, due to the safeguarding etc).
If the reference isn't forthcoming then I would be inclined to ring and ask about the person so as not to hold up interviews. But sometimes we've interviewed before the references have come through anyway. It really depends on the job/school. :/

Ime, the best way to make sure you get an interview for a school job is to visit. Lots of heads won't consider applicants who don't visit, they have egos such that they want to believe you really want to work at their school rather than any school/are looking for a job that fits in with DC.

It's completely alien if you haven't worked in schools, you're usually not even opportunity but I've worked in three schools where unless the applicant pool was very thin (usually teachers) you have no chance of an interview unless you visit.