Wishing good luck to old colleague who is applying to work at my firm?

[ladythatlunches84]

My department is very open and we have been discussing the applicants that have responded to a recent job advert.

I know one of the applicants from my previous place of work and sent them a fb message earlier saying I'm glad to hear they've applied and wishing them luck (I also said there is more than 1 position available and that there are currently only 6 applicants but didn't give any other info) as I thought it would be nice for them to know and have some reassurance.

They haven't replied but they've read my message. I'm now worrying that they're offended/unhappy that I wished them luck or that they're unhappy that I know they've applied, as I've not heard anything back.

Am I worrying over nothing? Might be pregnancy hormones or I maybe I should've just not mentioned anything. This person has been on lots of interviews for other positions in other companies so it's not a secret they're looking to change employers (but I haven't told anybody apart from the message I sent them)

I cant believe some of these moronic responses

Aw - I think that's a nice message and one I'd be glad to receive!

^Me too

@NerrSnerr no sorry I should've made that more clear. My line manager was speaking with me and another individual who also knew a different applicant. It wasn't during a break or with the staff cohort or within a general meeting even, just an informal chat to get our experiences with the applicants in the plays.

*past not plays

my line manager asked me what they were like to work with.

Is very different to

My department is very open and we have been discussing the applicants that have responded to a recent job advert.

But either way you overstepped the mark by sending the message.

It's the whole confidentiality culture at your place of work though, you said you'd heard it through the grapevine and your office was very open. We're only going off what you are telling us. Your manager should know better. Doesn't sound at all like a professional place to work and you may have helped your friend dodge a bullet there.

@ladythatlunches84 you are contradicting yourself in your messages. You said you were talking about the applicants in the plural.

To be honest, there might be five positions going at your place of work if you and your line manager get fired over this. Good news for your (probable ex) friend I suppose.

I wouldn't normally be so hard but you are not showing any awareness about how wrong this is! It's really wrong.

I lost my job and my income on this sort of situation.

I thought it was quite an 'open' thing for my line manager to want hear of my experience In working with the applicant. Normally job positions are all dealt with by the powers that be (way above my pay grade) so I thought it was nice they asked my opinion.
Perhaps my choice of words in the message to my friend was not the best, I thought heard it through the grapevine sounded a bit nicer than my boss asked me what you were like

Greyroses A couple of posters on here don't get it at all, just how serious a data breach this is. They would have loved to have got a nice text before being managed out of their current job.

The issue isn't really with your discussion with your line manager but more with you then telling your friend you knew she had applied.

@GreyRoses yes I meant plural as there was another colleague there who knew a different applicant so the conversation was between me, line manager and colleague

People are very serious here!

I wouldn't give the slightest shit if I was your applicant friend, let alone complain about you. I think it was a nice gesture

OP you don't seem to be understanding that YOU BROKE THE LAW as did your employer by telling you she's applied. If I were your ex colleague, I'd make a complaint and if I were your boss, I'd discipline you! You've been very stupid and you'll be lucky if nothing comes of it. You are being stupidly dismissive and ignorant of what you have done.

This wouldn't trouble me at all. I'd be pleased I think.

I applied for a job recently and they asked me who I knew in the organization. There are about 7 of my old students working on the site and friends too. I assumed they would ask them about me.

I would've found that really weird - like I'm not judged for just my CV and interview performance but for everything I've ever done in front of you. I also wouldn't like thinking you'd been randomly talking about me.

What possessed you to say anything?

@ladythatlunches84 tbh the best thing you can do is go and confess to your line manager tomorrow and show her the message, apologise, and say that you understand what you messaged to your friend was wrong.

I say this as a line manager now because the chances are this will come out before or at interview and that would be worse for you and for the company. But if someone I line managed came to me first, it would be better.

I don't expect your opinion will be asked for again. There's a reason why it's above a paygrade and that is clear with situations like this. But your line manager should have made things clearer when asking you what the expectations on confidentiality are. Or not ask you! I wouldn't have done. But as I said, I lost a job and an income on this in the past.

This will probably go on both yours and your line manager's files.

Thanks @polkadotpixie. There's nothing I can do now and I won't ever say anything in future. Just hope nothing comes of it. Luckily I know this individual won't lose there job if they are found to be applying elsewhere as it's common knowledge they're keen to get a job with a different employer. But still, I know I shouldn't have said anything now

@polkadotpixie yup, I am very serious because people who lose their jobs over this are out with no pay.

Would you be happy about that if that happened to you when you next apply for a job? It's not a happy unserious matter having no job and bills to pay.

Sorry, I’m pretty chilled but I do think that’s inappropriate. An old colleague of mine is applying for a job at my work: he messaged me saying a friend of his was interested. I share a room with the recruiting partner and know for a fact that a) it’s him and b) he’s got the job. But I have responded to all his questions on behalf of his ‘friend’ as if it’s not him and I will wait for him to tell me when/if he accepts. You can’t ever be too careful when mixing work and non-work (even if it’s former colleague!)

People are very serious here!

Perhaps it depends on the role and workplace you’re in

Those in highly regulated industries probably a lot more likely to care than those in retail, for example

You’ve changed your tune, you started your original post with saying the office is very open (gossipy) and you were all discussing applicants (plural)
Whatever.
I think it was actually a very sweet thought to message but it was completely and entirely inappropriate. Sorry op!

Massive GDPR breach here which could land you and your oversharing department (sorry, three of you 🙄) in hot water.

I agree with the PP who suggested you speak to your line manager tomorrow as it’s quite likely a shit storm could be brewing!

Christ, I missed the whole second page!! Sorry. I actually think I would message again and say sorry if I have made you feel uncomfortable, the fact she’s applied is not going to go any further etc. Then hope it all blows over.

I also agree with speaking to the line manger. I would also be very worried about what could happen if the colleague doesn't get the job.

OMG

sorry, that meant to say..

OMG OP what were you thinking doing that