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?

@TheWernethWife

I would of thought he would of said that he had looked at our website, reviews etc not bloody financial information!

FFS OP, its basic English - would HAVE, not bloody would OF

😄

I'm in the process of getting a builder to do very expensive work on my house. Have checked his company out, he is very financially sound, not a fly by night.

Unless you're doing something dodgy, why shouldn't it be public information?

FWIW, I would also look up as company as well, before I went to even apply for the job. If it's not financially healthy, I don't want to work there.

YABU. You should be impressed he did this not annoyed! This is the kind of person you want working for you. Someone commercial who has the gumption to look up information that will impact him and knows how to do his research.

I'd be impressed by his initiative!

Firstly it's not your bank account, it's money belonging to a company. Secondly I would never dream of going for an interview without having done this first and having financial information to hand. It might be because I'm an accountant but this is absolutely the norm for interviews I go to and often questions on the filed accounts are asked at interview. Seems to be that you're embarrassed by how much money you are taking out of the company?

YABU really, sorry.
This is publicly available information and your potential employee has shown initiative doing this.
I work in a financial role and would expect to be asked at an interview whether I had researched this type of information. I wouldn't expect to get the job if I hadn't done this type of research off my own bat.

Just caught up on some of your other replies. I'm the same - embarrassed by my earnings and will hate it if they have to go on companies house accounts soon (I'm a Director so it's looking likely). I think it's because i know what it's like to have nothing and I know what it's like when others forget that - so I don't bandy it about!

@DynamoKev

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

This!

Surely it's common knowledge to research the company you're applying to? Also, if you've got bills/rent/mortgage/dependents to feed stands to reason that you'd try suss out what job security may be. I know someone who quit a job to join a new company which went bust one week after they'd started. You're being ridiculous

My god. If this superb candidate ever saw this post, they would run a mile from you.

We have a wage of 162k a year between me and dh after tax, NI etc.

Yes I’am embarrassed about that. I grew up on a council estate, went to a crap primary and high school and left school with barely a G.C.S.E to my name. Dh was the same.

So yes i hate the fact people can see what i earn, it never bothered me when i worked for min wage years ago but it does bother me now. When i knew he had looked at the companies house, it was him seeing the dividends that sprang to my mind first.

Sounds like a really astute interviewee. I’m always looking on companies house, you can get alsorts of info on there. Although I do also use it for my job. You must be doing ok if your accounts are on there as you only need to make them public if your turnover is a certain level.

Shows initiative and good preparation. He’s obviously very thorough - I’d be snapping him up!

I would grab him with both hands he sound's as though he has his head screwed on and would be an asset to any Company.

Nothing wrong with making sure you are going to potentially work for a company that’s financially sound, especially if you have multiple job offered etc

I can see it’s already been said but would like to reiterate that unless you’re making over 10m in sales / have over 5m in assets (ish) with lots of employees you shouldn’t be filing accounts which show your salary or dividends.

I’d expect anyone interviewing to have looked at such things. And I see it as them complimenting your business discussing that it’s a sound business.

One of the things people do is show an interest in the company they want to work for. He was showing initiative. I am confused about what bothered you. YABU

Nice grin from Potted, I will join her. Well said, Werneth!

You will take up references, check his employment history and no doubt check his online footprint. Why shouldn’t he check that you are solvent

I have been to many interviews where they basically gave me an oral exam in their latest account. He was being professional and you are being unprofessional.

Who in their right mind would join any company without doing their homework?!

nope

Due diligence. Ever heard of it?

Your attitude is a classic example of why small privately owned companies are a minefield for employees.
The person had honestly stated his research and your attitude is shameful.

Absolutely always check companies house for anyone I interview with. I probably wouldn’t admit it in an interview but everyone does it…