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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Interviewer asking where I live

87 replies

Arielandflounder · 12/03/2021 21:12

AIBU - I had an interview today. During the interview I was asked where I live. I didn’t want to tell them my exact location in an interview setting so I said I live in Buckinghamshire. The interviewer then said where do you live in Buckinghamshire. I then replied
I’m living in X village. It’s not the one I live in it’s the next village 5 minutes away.

Then they said about giving my CV to their client. This involves using my CV details on their corporate paper and then sending it out to their client. In all honesty i just sat there and thought you have no right to give out my information when you have not even made a job offer or asked if it’s even okay to do that. They even asked me to detail information which I told them I am prohibited from disclosing due the nature of the work I have done in the past.

As I went through an agency they do not have my home address but it’s the fact they thought they could just give out my details that got my back up.Confused AIBU

OP posts:
RestingPandaFace · 12/03/2021 22:26

As @blueshoes said above, if the company is pitching for a project or a large piece of work it’s quite common to submit CVs of the team as part of the bid. At least it is in my sector.

cerseii · 12/03/2021 22:27

What are your concerns though? That someone’s going to stalk you or turn up at your address?

Giving out your address (and number and email) is standard when job hunting, so they’re not really doing anything wrong. Maybe just put your address down as the next street if you’re that worried?

Ellpellwood · 12/03/2021 22:30

Ah I see. I have a friend who works for a business analysis company called ACompany, who employ a team of about 6 to work solely on the web side for er... let's say Peugeot. Peugeot pay the salary although the team of 6 work in and are line managed by ACompany offices. It's normal for both to want to sign off on you before hiring.

cerseii · 12/03/2021 22:31

@TheBullfinch

OP, forgive me but are you very young?
Err as someone in their early 20s, what are you insinuating? It doesn’t sound like OP is “very young.” Young people are able to apply for jobs without needing the basics spelt out, thanks
ShirleyPhallus · 12/03/2021 22:34

@MajesticWhine

No one asked me in an interview where I live. I think it's a bit intrusive actually. But I work in the public sector and you can't ask stuff like that.
It’s intrusive? Isn’t it small talk to make people feel at ease?

No ones asking for an exact street address or post code

Jellycatspyjamas · 12/03/2021 22:38

It may be that they’re in the process of agreeing the contract with the client, so want to pass on your cv to show they have appropriate staff, if they get the contract you get the job. It’s not that unusual in particular industries.

Somuddled · 12/03/2021 22:41

If the client is stumping up the money for your potential salary of course they get to see your CV details beforehand.

Shrivelled · 12/03/2021 22:47

I’m a freelancer and I thrust my details in people’s faces all the time without a worry. Worst thing that’s going to happen is they hunt me down and offer me work. Unless you’re MI5, then I can see it would be a problem.

Siepie · 12/03/2021 22:53

I don't like giving out my address in interviews, especially after sitting on an interview panel where another panelist made a big deal about it (suggesting we shouldn't hire the clear 'star' candidate because they lived in the next town - less than 30 mins away!)

However if the client is providing funding based on your CV, then clearly they need to have a say in whether to hire you. I don't even know how many people have seen my CV, and I have a public Linkedin profile, so I don't have any worries about that.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 12/03/2021 22:59

@MajesticWhine

No one asked me in an interview where I live. I think it's a bit intrusive actually. But I work in the public sector and you can't ask stuff like that.
Why is it intrusive?!
HidingFromDD · 12/03/2021 23:01

Actually, this is a breach of GDPR unless they have provided you with privacy notice and have your consent to give the details to a potential client. You have consented to your agency providing your details to a potential employer (no problem there). The employer is not then allowed to provide your details to a potential client of theirs unless they have your consent to do so (although potentially it may be in the small print of the agency - bit dodgy though). I think you're right to be cautious. it's either 1) there isn't a position available unless they win the contract, in which case they should be upfront about it and state you may be offered conditional on this bid and do you consent to having your details put forward or 2) they're getting good CVs in for a bid and will then turn around to client and say 'sadly xyz has moved on to another role'... and you don't get a job at all. Personally, I'd ask for clarification and also state that you don't consent to details being passed on unless it's tied to a conditional offer

HidingFromDD · 12/03/2021 23:04

I suppose there's also 3) your agency has just passed your details on to another agency. In which case you need the 'other' agency to confirm details such as privacy notices etc - depends whether the firm interviewing will the ones who offer you a position

ChristmasAlone · 12/03/2021 23:08

Employee wants to know where you live to see if it's a reasonable commute. I've been involved in the hiring process several times for people within my team, I would always ask and would always have Reservations about someone that lived further than what I consider a reasonable commute. This is like worrying about the till person asking for your email address when you've purchased something, they aren't going to start knocking on your door just like the till person isn't going to drop you an email telling you they love the jeans you bought.

TitsInAbsentia · 12/03/2021 23:16

I didn't think it was ok to ask where someone lived (and make your own judgement on their commute) however acceptable to ask if they were able to commute to x location x days a week.

Jonnywishbone · 12/03/2021 23:28

Totally normal to share address. Don't get what your issues are.

Not sure what the relevance of the official secrets act is but I can tell you unless you are DV or SC cleared (which clearly you aren't) there is nothing sensitive about what you are doing.

Missreginafalange · 12/03/2021 23:37

@Ladyofmainlyleisure

That’s what agencies do! They’re not spying on you! 🤣

If you don’t want an agency to find you work, you need to put the time in yourself to find out who, in each company you want to work for, manages applications and apply direct.
Even then you may be forced to go through an agency as some companies outsource their recruitment to agencies.

OP has already said it's not the agency, she is fine with them sharing her cv with potential employers.

It's the company she had an interview with and would be working for who are passing the information on to their client who is paying for the project and OPs potential salary.

OP I get why you'd think it's strange but if their client is paying your wage they must want input in to the hire although they should be asking you if you are comfortable with them sharing your CV.

LouiseTrees · 12/03/2021 23:51

@Arielandflounder

I was happy for the recruiter to give my details to the company that interviewed me - my reference is to the company then wanting to pass on to their client. So now my information has gone from me to the recruitment agent. Recruiter then given to the company that interviewed me who are now giving my information to their client. I have no job offer at this point ! Blush
Couldn’t you just have said “ I’d rather my information didn’t go to a third party unless I already have the job”
Matilda15 · 13/03/2021 00:29

I’ve interviewed 100s of candidates and I always ask where they live. I don’t expect full address as others have said I’m roughly working out commute times.
When using recruitment agencies they usually let me know where someone’s based without asking.

GrumpyHoonMain · 13/03/2021 00:33

If you say Buckinghamshire for a London role they want you around MK which it sounds like you are with your commute. So what’s the problem?

May17th · 13/03/2021 00:35

I agree about the location is one thing but the actual villiage! Hmm surely this would of been on the CV/Application anyway.

lljkk · 13/03/2021 00:38

Is it possible the client has an agreement with company that client needs to vet the person who will work on client's account? There is no job unless client agrees to hire Person X.

DoubleDessertPlease · 13/03/2021 00:58

I find the address question slightly odd too unless it was just small talk. Sending your cv on to another client can be standard practice though if you’re interviewing with a consultancy, etc and actually going to be working with the end client, e.g on their systems or with their staff.

eaglejulesk · 13/03/2021 01:22

Struggling to understand what your problem is Confused

Topseyt · 13/03/2021 01:53

I'm struggling too with understanding what your issues are.

The company which was considering employing you wanted your details and wanted to share them with their client whose project you would be working on. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me if they were considering offering you the job.

If they do employ you then you will have to share many more details with them, including your bank details unless you don't want to be paid.

LegendDairy · 13/03/2021 02:24

Protect your data op. They should be asking your permission to pass your data to a third party.