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)

No OP do not tell on yourself. Never ever bring a shitstorm down upon your head, why would you do that? Then your bosses are going to see you as an agitator and a weirdo for bringing all this drama into this poor girl's application process. Plus it acknowledges knowledge and intent. Very dumb idea.

Say absolutely nothing else about it to no one. No follow up emails or confessions. Chances are nothing bad will happen anyway, some of these people are a bit dramatic.

If they do ask you about it, just stick to the truth. You rather thoughtlessly tried to do a good thing. You think highly of the company and the applicant and felt she'd be a great addition to the team. And then let the chips fall where they may. I don't think it will come to that but even so, I don't believe it will be nearly as dire as the chicken little's say. You are a nice lady, good luck to you and the applicant!

While I don't think it was professional of the OP to have contacted her friend I'm horrified some people would lose a job because they had applied for another job, what industries do you work in? Everyone moves jobs sometimes, it's very unrealistic to sack people for applying elsewhere and doesn't say much for that employer. If they are concerned about data breaches or stealing company knowhow there are other ways to deal with that rather than sacking someone who has done something entirely normal. What on earth is their justification?

GDPR completely missed your place of work then?

I'd imagine your ex colleague hasn't responded to you because she's wondering what the fuck she should do now.

How old are you? 12? You sound COMPLETELY naive and utterly unprofessional! And I cannot believe the responses of some other posters on here either, who also seem to think this is ok 🤦‍♀️. This is a seriously unprofessional (and unlawful) breach of confidentiality.

Posting messages on your friends Facebook wall about this also smacks of how immature and naive you are...you outed her about something that was none of your business!

Try thinking next time about consequences of your actions!

Aaaawww don't worry. I think everyone knows you did it with the best of intentions. You're clearly not gossiping and telling everyone. I think everyone is just pointing out that it was a teeny bit unprofessional. BUT it was still a lovely thought and I would stop beating yourself up over it. Even if you did over step the mark (and I don't know) everyone makes mistakes and since your manager asked you it was really nice of you to put in a good word for her. Don't feel bad for wishing someone well which is ultimately what you did. 💐💐

MASSIVE faux pas on your part, and the part of your company too. It's confidential, completely confidential. Imagine now that this person feels they need to be extra nice to you because their application may rely upon you being nice about them to your company, it's a GDPR breeches too as you're not involved with the interview process

I take it you're not interview trained? Who ever shared the j formation with you, wrongly and that person made the fatal error, should have told you this was in complete
Confidence

Personally I'd assume the company was a crappy company to work for if that's their attitude to confidentiality

You're clearly not gossiping and telling everyone

Perhaps not, but this isn't at all clear to the candidate.

Comments like "I heard on the grapevine", and "sung your praises to my line manager". Make it sound like the candidate is the talk of the office, and goodness knows what has been discussed between the staff members and those on the interview panel.

I know you meant very well but, if I were the message recipient, I'd be considering withdrawing my application for a few reasons now.

1. I'd be wondering if you thought I was so crap that you needed to assure me that you'd tried to increase my chances ie I needed all the help I could get.

1. Seriously concerned about confidentiality - what other information is shared?

1. I'd want to be able to present myself at interview as I see fit, I would feel awkward knowing that those on the panel had a preconceived idea of me.

1. Whether successful or not I would like it to have been on my own merit not as a result of a skewed process. If I got the job I'd feel that it may have been influenced by the prior discussion about me and if I didn't get the job I would also wonder whether it were as a result of same. All candidates need to be afforded an even playing field.

1. I would never be able to trust my colleagues should I get the job and for me that is a total deal breaker.

Acceptability varies a lot by industry - where I work there is a small set of people working in Europe doing what we do and it’s normal to go on LinkedIn and see if anyone knows the applicants for recommendation purposes.

This is utter hyperbole - op sent a friendly message, nothing else will happen.

I work in a niche position. I would be absolutely horrified to receive your message.

Maybe you would - that doesn’t mean it’s not normal in what you do - it is in what I do. Sometimes mumsnet feels like a medieval village mob of people rampaging at someone for a minor error of judgment.

In fact, what id probably have done was skype or call an old contact, that’s what most people do.

are you posting because shes hasnt replied. if she had replied you wouldnt be concerned.

Oh dear I think OP has got the message people.
I think all responses are valid.
On the one hand yes the OP doesn’t sound malicious and seems naive.
On the other hand yes, I would deem it unprofessional. If the ex colleague had chosen not to inform you then that will be for good reason.

I would want to phone them and apologise but the professional in my screams that would be a very bad idea and just to let it lie. You will have to wait and see if they complain.

Acceptability varies a lot by industry

Yes, but data protection laws don't.

@SweetRosie92

No OP do not tell on yourself. Never ever bring a shitstorm down upon your head, why would you do that? Then your bosses are going to see you as an agitator and a weirdo for bringing all this drama into this poor girl's application process. Plus it acknowledges knowledge and intent. Very dumb idea.

No. The only thing that is dumb is to think this will all go away and will never be mentioned by anyone. You are clearly utterly clueless about management, data protection, and HR protocol, if you think what the OP did is OK.

And you are very naive, if you think the woman in question (being interviewed for the job) won't ever say anything, or bring it up again. Please stop dishing out dangerous, clueless advice to people, when you clearly know jack-all of what you speak about!

The OP needs to talk to her line manager, and mention what she said to the woman. If the woman gets in first, it will end badly for the OP. She may even get fired, because this is a GROSS data breach. If she fesses up and speaks out now, she may avoid dismissal.

I would be giving a written warning to any of my staff who did this (if they came and admitted it.) If they kept it quiet (and I found out,) they would be dismissed.

@GreyRoses I'd be delighted if that happened to me when job hunting! I don't have any issue with it at all as long as the person was complimentary about me, if they were slagging me off I wouldn't be happy but this wasn't the case here

I don't have any issue with it at all as long as the person was complimentary about me

Surely that's part of the problem though. If you're happy to be discussed with previous work colleague prior to your interview, then you have to accept some may have negative things to say about you.

It doesn't really matter if some people here wouldn't mind it or think it's a nice gesture, it's still illegal! OP you obviously had the best of intentions but it was very inappropriate. Also telling her you've been "singing her praises" sounds a bit like you'll be wanting to take the credit if she does get the job. I don't think many people would feel comfortable with the implication they're beholden to someone for their job.

It doesn't really matter if some people here wouldn't mind it or think it's a nice gesture, it's still illegal!

I feel this needs repeating.

The organisation could also be in trouble if it were found out not to be GDPR compliant.

And, for all the "I wouldn't mind if you said something nice about me".. I can't quite believe adults are typing this stuff!

@polkadotpixie you have missed the point. Utterly. If this happened to you like it happened to me, you would be out of your job. You may have been "delighted" about that. I was not.

If your employer wants to get rid of you in the first two years, they can for no reason. They don't need to justify it. They can find out you are looking and give you a huge shove out the door and there is nothing that can be done about it. Then suddenly you are job hunting urgently with no wage.

@HoppityFrog3 I am glad someone feels the same as me. Some of the other responses are very worrying 🙄

@GreyRoses I think most people agree/think the same as you (and me.) Only the naive and clueless can think it's OK to do it what the OP did! And I also question the people who say 'I would be happy if someone said something nice about me.' Sounds a bit needy.

All that said, I hope the OP is OK, and doesn't get into too much shit. She sounds like a good person, who just didn't think through what she was doing.

Any news for us @ladythatlunches84 ? Did you speak to anyone at work about it? Did the lady in question contact you back yet?

Yes - OP has been naive. For sure.
But I also think the line manager needs a thoroughly good dressing down - as it was the line manager who breached confidentiality.

If he/she really thought there was justification for telling you about your friend's application he/she should have asked you alone (not with colleague talking about two separate applicants - one of whom you don't know) and he/she should have been absolutely crystal clear with you that it should not be discussed and not leave the room you were in. It sounds like it was a casual chat rather than a highly confidential, professional conversation. There should have been no doubt about this to allow for the OP to make her mistake.

It's not only the OP at fault here - and I would suggest it's not even mainly her.

It's bad form by the company as a whole to make people think this is ok.