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)

He/she will either think:-

1. Its unprofessional, she shouldn't have known about that. If I do get the job is it because of her, or was it down to being the best candidate?!
2. that's sweet. How nice! If it were me...it would be number 1.

Job applications should be confidential- I’d be horrified if I thought my application was being discussed, even with people I know and like.

@ladythatlunches84

Ooops, yeah sorry OP....... This is very unprofessional and inappropriate. You don't mix business with pleasure, or bleat about work stuff/professional stuff out of work to other people.

A doctor's receptionist at my old practice used to think it was funny to make silly comments about the amount of meds someone had (Shirl who was a neighbour of her aunt, who she knew her from 20-odd years back.) EVERY time Shirl came into the practice, this woman said 'here's Shirl, shuffling in for her 2 foot long prescription' with a massive on her face.' 'Shirl' was never amused, just embarrassed. The other women on reception looked a bit

One day in the town centre, she said 'hiya Shirl, got your pull along shopping trolley for all your inhalers and anti inflams and cocodomol LOL!?' 'SHIRL' was not impressed, and went straight to the practice manager at the doctors surgery, and put in an official written complaint about her. This complaint - along with the fact the other receptionists had heard her before - resulted in a written warning that stayed on her employee record for a year.

By the way, there are no 'moronic' responses on here. Anyone who thinks what the OP did is OK, is laughably clueless, and clearly knows jack-shit about recruiting, HR, and management, and DATA PROTECTION. Please tell me you are not in a position of trust!

At my place, there would be a disciplinary for such a gross data breach.

Incredibly silly to do this. I know the OP meant well, but I am cringing for her. And to say 'I sung your praises...' Jesus!'

Please do not contact this woman again. And if you see her, don't mention it. And do NOT mention to anyone that you messaged her. As a number of posters have said, it could spell trouble for her in the future. It may be advisable (as someone suggested,) to tell your manager what you did, and that you meant well. Because it's possibly going to come out. Better that you fess up first!

Also agree that the woman will possibly think she only got the job because you 'put a word in for her!'

I think it was a nice gesture and I wouldn't read too much into it. The responses on here are ridiculous, you haven't murdered anyone FFS.

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.

Actually, OP, it wasn't nice or open that they asked you. It was really unprofessional and unfair to the candidates.

I assume that you were not listed as one of this person's referees, so your manager had no business to be seeking your views.

If you were mates with the candidate, you could really big them up to your current employer, over-exaggerating their strengths and minimising their weaknesses. That would be totally unfair to the other candidates who didn't happen to have the good fortune to know any current employees and who wouldn't benefit from the internal sales pitch.

On the other hand, if you had fallen out with your former colleague or disliked them for some reason - which might have nothing to do with work - you could have bad-mouthed them to your boss, emphasizing all the reasons why they might not be suitable for the job.

I'm not saying that you would do anything like that, but the potential is there, so your boss shouldn't have asked you. Even if you tried to give a purely factual account of what a former colleague was like, it still wouldn't be fair to rely on your judgement because, unless you were that person's line manager, you wouldn't have been in possession of all the facts.

It was really unprofessional of your manager to share the data with you and ask for your opinions. It was also unprofessional for you to share the fact that you knew your former colleague had applied, and the information about the other candidates, but I guess you know that now. I agree with a pp that you should probably confess the breach to your manager tomorrow. It seems clear that it was caused by naivety rather than any malicious intent, and your boss has to share the responsibility because he/she breached the information to you in the first place.

Gah posted too soon

I cant believe some of these moronic responses

The responses on here are ridiculous

So you'd both be happy to know that a job you've applied for has been discussed with an ex colleague. Someone who should have no input into the decision to hire you, who could have said any number of incorrect or untrue statements to those who do have the decision to give you the job.

Or that the same someone could inform your current employer that you're looking to leave, and potentially jeopardize the job you do have.

Ah maybe they’re unsure about replying but it was nice of you to try and be supportive. Don’t worry.

I wouldn’t worry - I work in a niche area where a lot of people know each other and I sponsor read anything into your message. I can’t really understand the responses about this being something you’d report yourself to hr over

Can't believe you actually thought this would be a good idea. You've probably made her feel uncomfortable. I get that it came from a good place but you really need to learn from this and think before you act.

In the last job I applied for, it said quite clearly in the application pack that we were not to contact any of their current employees to discuss it (other than the named contact from HR). It was something to do with ensuring that the recruitment process was fair and that there was no influence or bias.

If I'd received your FB message it would have left me with something of a dilemma. Ignore and risk annoying a current employee who may have influence over the recruitment decision or reply and potentially put the job at risk.

You meant well but may have done more harm than good.

Surely the applicants for a new job deserve some privacy and not to be the hot topic around the water cooler before they’ve even interviewed for the role. I can’t imagine being privvy to this sort of information from our HR Dept.

The only people to discuss the applicants are the hr manager and the manager from the department they are recruiting for.
Their names mustn't be discussed amongst the office.
If she gets the job it could look like nepotism. If she doesn't get the job it could be taken that it's because you discussed it or put in a bad word.
You did what you did with best intentions but it was very unprofessional of your company and you.

@PeachRose Yup, it's a laugh a minute losing your job over something like this.

You say how nice it was of the manager to ask your opinion, you gave it and should not have said any more. Running to your FB friend makes you sound like you love to be the messenger!

Recruiting is above your pay grade for a reason, be safe in the knowledge you will never be part of that pay grade because you cannot be trusted to keep your mouth shut.

You should be aware that if your manager asks for your view, this is also off the record as he/she shouldn't be using this knowledge to make a decision on the applicant. Otherwise, not all applicants are being put through the same process. And you have now drawn attention to the fact this is happening.

I agree with others, massively inappropriate. Most importantly you absolutely should not have said how many positions or candidates there were. It’s so unprofessional and certainly at the least worth a written warning.
I’m sorry OP, I know you meant well but it was pretty stupid.

There are only 6 applicants so far for 3 positions and have sung your praises to my line manage

(Forgetting confidentiality for a mo)...
You made it sound like it's an easy win/no brainer for her.

Basically saying 5050 chance and you've put in a good word.

So if she doesn't get it... that's gonna make her feel shit!

And if she does get it... it sounds like you're taking credit with the good word

OP I’ve started two new jobs in the last 12 months and used my professional network to get both. I know I was discussed internally at both firms, as I had previous professional relationships with current staff and used this to my advantage. I also used my contacts at the organisations to find out as much as possible about the company and my interviewers beforehand my interviews.

I would have been delighted to have received your message.

I've recently applied for a job somewhere I worked a few years ago and one of them contacted me saying they were so happy I'd applied and I was told at my interview they'd been singing my praises - I was happy to hear it! Even if I don't get the role it's nice to hear they think highly of me.

I wouldn't overthink it at this point.

I think it's shocking, surely this should be kept confidential? I would not be pleased to get that message, no matter how nicely worded it was.

There's a lot of stuff wrong here.

Firstly ... she / he may want the job on their own merit not because someone else who isn't a referee sang their praises ... No one wants to owe anyone anything.
Secondly ... She / he may not even like you and didn't realise you worked there.
Thirdly ... It makes your workplace look crap and unprofessional ... The world and his wife knowing who applied ... Who would want to work for a company like that?! ... You've given the company a bad name.
Your intentions were good ... But you don't seem like a professional person that understands business and workplace professionalism.
I really hope you don't get reprimanded by HR for this.

If you are such good friends and she is amyes you to know she was applying she would have asked you for your opinion on the company

She didn’t

You had no right to message her, nice or otherwise

Being on the receiving end of such a message would make me really uncomfortable. I'd be wondering how professional the place was, and as PP have said if I didn't get the job it would stig a bit more knowing there were few candidates.

For others saying they wouldn't mind, that may be so, but I think (hope?) most HR staff would consider it fairly unprofessional.

It seems OP that your intentions weren't malicious, don't mention it again until the recruitment process has ended, unless the recipient takes it any further. Your manager should bear some responsibility for leading you down this path.