To be gobsmacked that an interviewee openly told dh that he had looked at our accounts…

[ChampagneWorries]

On companies house?

Dh did an interview today via zoom and the interviewee openly told him that they had looked at our company accounts on companies house to see if we were a healthy company!

Our dividends are on there and I'm really shocked that he basically admitted to being so nosey.

I know they are public information (which i disagree with) but they do show the company income, how much cash was in the bank and our salary etc.

Dh wants to offer him the job as he had some good qualities, but this has really put me off him.

I know people do look at peoples companies on the companies house, but you don't bloody tell them surely?!

Would you still offer him the job?

It’s public information and a potential employee wants to know if it’s a going concern surely. I think their enquiring mind is a good quality to be honest.

YABVU although in a way I hope he doesn't get a job working for you - he deserves to work somewhere normal.

Makes total sense for him to look into the financial strength of the company if he is leaving another job to take this one.

Yes I would. He made use of public information to learn more about the company and to see if it's somewhere he wants to work (and will still be around in a year- many won't!) He was also upfront and honest about it. It's not something that would bother me at all to be honest

Of course I’d give him the job, shows he’s got some common sense!

I think an interview is a two way process where the candidate should be looking to see if they want to work for you as well as you seeing if you want them to work for you. I don't see anything wrong with doing research on a company you are interviewing for, given the last year I would particularly want to know whether the company is stable and likely to continue trading over the longer term. If anything I'd see it as the candidate being serious about wanting the job.

Why do you think it should be a secret?

I would think it odd and remiss if an interviewee hadn't checked the solvency of a company that he was applying to work for. As you say, the information is in the public domain so I am bemused by your shock and outrage.

If it’s public information then of course you can look at it. It’s only sensible to get all the information you can on a company before you accept a position with them. I really do not understand what your problem is here?

It's a worrying time for people changing jobs. Surely he's just checking it's a secure position? I'd say he's doing his homework - I'd be impressed tbh

What are you trying to hide, op? . It's perfectly normal to research a company before letting them waste your time at interview, yes.

It is what any applicant should do as basic due diligence on the company they may be joining.

Clever men! He's quite right. I think being up front is a fantastic quality in a candidate.

I don't really understand what he did wrong?

I'm not sure about the difference between what accounts are on Companies House - ours are small company ones so quite limited.

What an impressive candidate

You’re being weird.

He wanted to show he'd been diligent and interested enough to check out the company. I don't see what's wrong with that. It's all in the public domain.

I do this for people when they are on Grand Designs. Of course I'd do it for a job.

You don't want a thorough employee who does his homework and knows the law? Weird.

It would make me want to employ him more, but your response would make me want to work for you less.

I know people do look at peoples companies on the companies house, but you don't bloody tell them surely?!
How far does this weird attitude to looking up public data and not telling people extend?
As for dividend info - are you sure about all that. No-one could've worked out my earnings from my ltd co from publicly available data.

I would assume that all the interviewees have looked OP, basic fact finding about a company before going for an interview

Of course you are being unreasonable! Hugely unreasonable.

Candidates should be finding out everything they possibly can for an interview, both to improve their chances of getting the job by sounding engaged/knowledgeable but also to ensure its the right place for them and a good, secure prospect.

He sounds like he's got his head screwed on.

YABVU. what a strange post. Interviewee does research into his/her potential employer and is slated. It’s not ‘nosy’ - Companies House isn’t Facebook.

I looked into the annual reports of a company I was asked to interview for before moving- I was jumping ship from an unstable company and wanted to be sure I was moving to a secure one with a future. Granted it was a massive company, but I still think it’s a smart move, especially in the current climate.

I’d want to hire him too as I’d be impressed with his initiative- but if you’re going to be weird and hold it against him then don’t, as that’s not fair on him.

You sound a bit like Donald Trump not wanting to publish your accounts.