Job applications and confidentiality

[confused384]

I work in a bit of a niche industry, and all the local businesses will have a friend of a friend working there.

It's making job applications very difficult. I wondered if employers are allowed to tell friends/ex-colleagues that so and so applied for a job at their company?

I'll be a bit more specific - a job has come up at a company, and one of the managers there used to work at my current company (before I did), and has many friends there. If I applied, are they legally allowed to divulge the information to anyone?

I wouldn't think it's illegal for them to say anything, though it would be unethical... would they be part of the hiring process at the company you want to apply to? If not, you could ask the hiring manager for a bit of discretion...

Have you got a particular concern about something they could spill the beans about?

It isn't illegal, it falls into one of those "it's crappy but legal" things. Of course the contents should be confidential as a lot of it is your personal information.

The place you are applying to might want to find out a bit about you beforehand, especially as it's niche. Prospective employers often do this apparently. Then the information is out.

Is there a particular reason you don't want your current employer to know?

Ive worked in 3 different industries and nobody seems to ever be able to apply for jobs without others knowing.

No one should talk but you cannot stop news from leaking out. Assume it will.

One way to neutralise the manager at the new place is to approach them directly and ask about the role. If they refer you (rather than through an agency), they could stand to get a referral bonus if you are hired. In some companies, the referees are also not allowed to participate in the hiring process.

I appreciate you may not feel comfortable to do this if you do not know the manager well. People talk sadly, unlawful or not and it is almost impossible to prove and pointless to challenge. You can only hope they have integrity.