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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

989 replies

ChampagneWorries · 24/05/2021 18:40

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?

OP posts:
me4real · 25/05/2021 02:02

Companies House records are there to be viewed and don't take much tracking down/he needn'tve dug around for long. There's nothing wrong with him checking a company he's considering working for aren't at particularly high risk of going bust and him being left out of work and maybe with some wages etc unpaid.

@ChampagneWorries What this shows is he is very sensible and dilligent. He cares about his future and is cautious about decisions he makes. These are all good qualities in an employee.

timeisnotaline · 25/05/2021 03:09

Hopefully everyone has told you your opinions are ridiculous! Candidate just doing due diligence.

DPotter · 25/05/2021 03:14

An employer will check an applicant's references, totally appropriate that the applicant should check the employer's status.

He's not the 1st to do this and he wont be the last

Maggiesfarm · 25/05/2021 03:18

@Shelddd

YABU and I was very happy to see 98% of people agree with me.

:)

Me too :-).

I wonder if the 'interviewee' posts on Mumsnet and will see this thread. If so, he/she might be wondering why it was worth bothering. Who wants an uneducated boss who posts banal stuff on Mumsnet?

me4real · 25/05/2021 03:29

I also see his statement as saying it's like a mutual assessment- he is also assessing the company and he's not going to let himself be bamboozled by anyone.

Also @ChampagneWorries , it's kind of a compliment. I imagine it went along the lines of him saying he looked the company up and it was something he considered to be doing well and that it'd be ok to be involved with.

Castlepeak · 25/05/2021 03:51

People are supposed to research companies before an interview and illustrating that research during the interview is standard procedure.

Tiffanny · 25/05/2021 06:23

What's wrong with this? Are you a small company? In which case he is doing his due diligence , same as you will before hiring ?

Tiffanny · 25/05/2021 06:27

@ChampagneWorries
Yes, sorry.

Making an assumption that you haven't interviewed or been an employee for quite some time now? You really need to re-think your approach to this

Ginuwine · 25/05/2021 06:28

Some disgraceful replies to the OP on here using out of date abusive language on mental health.

Calling her "mental", "bonkers" etc isn't going to help her understanding of why she is being unreasonable. But don't let me stand in the way of you giving someone a good kicking!

@ChampagneWorries I hate to say it but I also agree with 99% of others on here that you are being unreasonable. You have a good and diligent candidate there. Hire him.

However I don't need to question your entire being or abuse you in order to tell you that.

DisgruntledPelican · 25/05/2021 06:35

@Gwenhwyfar I once figured out I’d probably got a job offer when one of the interviewers and the MD connected with me on LinkedIn Grin Got the call a couple of days later!

PegasusReturns · 25/05/2021 08:38

@ChampagneWorries please come back and tell us what role he was applying for because if it’s one in finance or IA that will be the icing on an already great cake Grin

KaptainKaveman · 25/05/2021 08:42

I haven't RTFT but your dh is appalling for telling you what his interviewees have said. I hope the poor bloke doesn't end up working for him.

saraclara · 25/05/2021 08:44

@KaptainKaveman

I haven't RTFT but your dh is appalling for telling you what his interviewees have said. I hope the poor bloke doesn't end up working for him.
Why? If OP is a director?
KaptainKaveman · 25/05/2021 08:46

Imagine blabbing the details of confidential job interviews to your spouse, who in turn plastered them all over the Internet. What sort of cowboy shite outfit would do that? Oh, wait....

TurquoiseDragon · 25/05/2021 08:52

@KaptainKaveman

Imagine blabbing the details of confidential job interviews to your spouse, who in turn plastered them all over the Internet. What sort of cowboy shite outfit would do that? Oh, wait....
But if the OP is a director, then she's entitled to know what went on in the interview.
fruitbrewhaha · 25/05/2021 09:02

Interviews are not confidential. The interviewer is at liberty to speak to whom ever else is involved in the company and agency etc and and interviewee is allowed to discuss the meeting with whom ever they want. OP is also a director of the company.

That said OP you are being crazy. He didn't look up your house, how much you paid and do drive by. He hasn't snooped at where you shop, or where the kids go to school. He is checking you are a business that makes money and isn't in the shit before he gives up another job role. Which is extremely sensible. That he has said he has done so shows he is a) sensible and b) upfront and honest. From your updates it sounds like you'd rather he was sly and sneaky and didn't tell you. Why?

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 25/05/2021 09:11

I've often done this to check a company out. I don't want to start there and then find they've got financial troubles. Stop being so precious and be pleased that you've got a candidate that's so thorough. And yes, it is public information - tough.

Starburst8 · 25/05/2021 09:14

I think he showed initiative, I'm actually quite impressed he thought of doing so.
In my opinion how is this any different to job application forms asking the candidate their previous work and salary? I'm guessing your application would have asked to.
Why do you feel it's ok to know a potential employee's previous salary but not ok for a potential employee to know whether the company is worth taking a job with?

OnGoldenPond · 25/05/2021 09:22

I always download the accounts from Companies House along with any other publicly available information when I have an interview. It would be seen as a big black mark against me by the interviewer if I didn't. Can't understand your attitude at all Confused

OnGoldenPond · 25/05/2021 09:32

@ChampagneWorries if you would never tell an interviewer that you have looked at the company accounts you would definitely never get a job in finance.

Poor guy, he was trying to show you he had taken the trouble to find out about the company.

If the fact that people can access financial information about your business upsets you so much you are quite at liberty to give up the protection of limited liability and become a sole trader or partnership. Your choice.

Original poster
ChampagneWorries · 25/05/2021 09:36

I haven't flounced, I'm still here! Its just easier for me to reply in detail with a proper keyboard rather than on my phone.

Its a very small company we have (turnover of just under 1 million)

I have checked the accounts on companies house and it names us individually and what dividends we received each. The accounts are very detailed online.

Its for a 30k a year job, working from home taking inbound calls, call centre type work.

I asked a guy i know who has a limited company (smaller than ours) and he agreed with me.

Anyway dh knows why i felt very uneasy about it (it stems from my childhood and family regarding money, snide remarks etc about other peoples salaries etc.

The candidate in question hasn't been at a workplace for more than 2 years at a time (he’s approx late 20s) but we have agreed to give him a shot.

Many thanks for all the nasty insults, i hope it made you feel worthy and superior to me.

OP posts:
Sleepyquest · 25/05/2021 09:37

I'd do the exact same thing! You're weird to be honest

crumpet · 25/05/2021 09:38

I do remember being a little surprised when an interviewee mentioned they’d looked me up in our professional body’s website, but it’s publicly available information. As would be Facebook, Twitter, linked in or any social media which is available and not made private.

OP if you hate people knowing how much you earn, look into ways of delivering your income more privately - there may be more tax payable as a consequence, but it would be for you to work out whether it’s worth it.

Sleepyquest · 25/05/2021 09:41

Why do you care if he saw what dividends you receive? Are you embarrassed? Also FWIW changing job every 2 years in your 20s is not a big deal. I've done the same. It's not like you get a job for life anymore, if you wanna move up the ladder you have to move roles!

Diamondnights · 25/05/2021 09:41

I don't mean this nastily OP but what do you think the point of/ reason for these accounts being public ally available IS, if it's not for those interested in the company to check them out?

I'm sorry that this makes you uncomfortable, maybe you should consider a different type of company structure, as a PP mentioned?

I hope the chap has a dazzling career (for himself) and brings lots of benefit to your company.