I had a job interview yesterday...UPDATE

[Darcy03231]

and after I left they called my current employer for a reference instead of my previous one Needless to say I had a very uncomfortable meeting with my boss this morning (I had the day off yesterday). I did call HR for the interviewing company to let them know (in the voice mail message to my boss they indicated that I worked here from 1986-1996 which was the dates of my previous employment) that they called my current employer and with the dates they gave if they meant to call my previous employer the contact person is _______ and the number is _____________________, as I doubt that my current boss will return the call. I was very nice about it, not at all confrontational. I would really like to get the job I intereviewed for but now am afraid I may have shot my chances down. What do you guys think?

UPDATE: I got the job!! The starting salary is the same as I was making before my hours got cut, but I will have some commuting costs - $2/day in tolls and its about 17 miles from my house vs. a mile from my house and no tolls, but before my hours were cut I was working 40 hours a week for $X and the new job is 36 hours week for the same $X, so it looks like it will be a wash.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

I don't think you shot your chances with the job you interviewed for. You just called them back to give them correct contact information so they could get the information they need. Heck, they may feel so guilty about calling your current employer they might offer you the job!

But, ugh, what an awkward thing to happen. Keep us posted on what happens.

Good Luck,
Debbie

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, how unprofessional. All I have to say is at LEAST they called for the references, which shows that you have a good chance!

 

[jodifla]

and after I left they called my current employer for a reference instead of my previous one Needless to say I had a very uncomfortable meeting with my boss this morning (I had the day off yesterday). I did call HR for the interviewing company to let them know (in the voice mail message to my boss they indicated that I worked here from 1986-1996 which was the dates of my previous employment) that they called my current employer and with the dates they gave if they meant to call my previous employer the contact person is _______ and the number is _____________________, as I doubt that my current boss will return the call. I was very nice about it, not at all confrontational. I would really like to get the job I intereviewed for but now am afraid I may have shot my chances down. What do you guys think?

I would never call somebody's current job unless I knew it was OK. This is really unprofessional of them.

I hope it works out for you.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Awkward That's such an uncomfortable situation. On the bright side, I do agree that the new job must be really considering you if they are checking references. Good luck!!

PS..any chance that your current employer will sweeten your current deal to get you to stay?? When my dh put in his 2 weeks at his last job his boss offered him a huge raise if he would stay.

 

[Darcy03231]

Awkward That's such an uncomfortable situation. On the bright side, I do agree that the new job must be really considering you if they are checking references. Good luck!!

PS..any chance that your current employer will sweeten your current deal to get you to stay?? When my dh put in his 2 weeks at his last job his boss offered him a huge raise if he would stay.

I doubt it. Everyone in the office was cut to 4 days a week last week. Its a small law firm and business has been really slow. I've been with the firm for 13 years and never would have thought that my job would be in jeopardy as I'm the only person in the office that does the secretarial and paralegal duties, as well as all the bookkeeping, account reconciliations, accounts payable, time and billing, etc., but after our conversation this morning he's still not making any guarantees. My thought is that if he really wanted to keep me here he'd make an effort, but other than saying he really doesn't want to loose me, my job isn't in jeopardy, this is only temporary, etc., he didn't offer anything more. He's in his early 60's and his focus has really shifted over the last year to a new project he's been working on (unrelated to the law firm). Maybe I reading the handwriting on the wall all wrong, but it looks to me like he's gearing up to retire and I can't just wait around to get laid off.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Ugh! I hate that! I once was in my office and had applied to another job. A bunch of my coworkers and my boss were in my office when the company called to do a phone interview. They went right into the interview not even asking if it was an ok time to call or anything. And all incoming calls at the place I worked at were recorded! It was so uncomfortable.

I also had another potential employer call the place I worked for. It made me very uneasy applying for jobs.

I'm glad I have a job that I don't want to leave now Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

That's rotten! Sounds like an honest mistake (the HR person thought they were calling the previous place), but that sort of mistake can cause big problems, and it's good they know it now.

PS..any chance that your current employer will sweeten your current deal to get you to stay?? When my dh put in his 2 weeks at his last job his boss offered him a huge raise if he would stay.

I can't recommend doing that. If you accept it, then your boss knows that money is the only thing you care about at the job.

DH did it, didn't work out well. And I've heard from many more that accepting such an offer puts you next on the chopping block when troubles come down the pike.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

That's rotten! Sounds like an honest mistake (the HR person thought they were calling the previous place), but that sort of mistake can cause big problems, and it's good they know it now.



I can't recommend doing that. If you accept it, then your boss knows that money is the only thing you care about at the job.

DH did it, didn't work out well. And I've heard from many more that accepting such an offer puts you next on the chopping block when troubles come down the pike.

Oh to clarify....my dh did not stay with his job....even after the raise offer. Good thing too....his current employer took over his last about 6 months later....his job was liquidated.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OMG what a MISTAKE on their part. meanwhile, so glad you did not play "sick" that day you took off for the interview (good for you by the way!), could you imagine!!

I am not so sure I would be comfortable with a company that cannot even get thru a simple interview procedure.

I realize economy is bad but Geeze
Good Luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh to clarify....my dh did not stay with his job....even after the raise offer. Good thing too....his current employer took over his last about 6 months later....his job was liquidated.

Oh good. Glad he didn't. I'm sure it works out for some people, but at least with the jobs around here, employers want their employees to LOVE being there. For money to not be the only reason they are there. Blah blah blah. (actually that works for us with amazon, but the job where this happened with DH was NOT amazon).

 

[blanq]

I would never call somebody's current job unless I knew it was OK. This is really unprofessional of them....

ITA! I am a position to hire in my profession, and I always call the prospective candidate BEFORE I call their current employer. I generally will make a tentative offer pending reference checks (and I also get copies of previous performance evaluations).

This whole debacle is a poor reflection on the employer you are considering jumping ship for.

 

[StephMK]

Since it sounds like they thought they were calling your previous employer, is there any chance you accidentally put your current phone number under that space? Otherwise, it sounds like they were not paying attention & picked up the wrong digits to call. Yikes!

Here's to hoping you get the new job!

 

[Darcy03231]

I got the job!!!

 

[greens_in_WA]

congratulations!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now you don't even have to figure out how to break the news to the boss, since he already knows. (silver lining of the phone call?)

 

[sharlon]

Congrats!!!! What a wonderful conclusion to the story. Best of luck to you at your new job!

 

[horseshowmom]

Glad to hear about the job! I can't help but think you may be right that your current employer is moving towards retirement. Good luck with the new job! When do you start?

 

[Darcy03231]

Glad to hear about the job! I can't help but think you may be right that your current employer is moving towards retirement. Good luck with the new job! When do you start?

Thanks for the support everyone!

I gave a two week notice at my current job so I'll start the new one on 12/16. I'm really excited about it. I guess I've been in a bit of a rut where I am now as it wasn't as hard to give my notice as I thought it would be. I'll be working for an attorney who practices in a completely different area of the law than what I've been doing for the last 23 years and I can't wait to start! I've been doing divorce/family law and will now being doing medical malpractice from the insurance defense end.

I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. If my hours hadn't been cut I most likely would have drifted on in my current position until I was laid off. I would never have seen the ad for the new job and would have missed out on a wonderful opportunity.

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks for the support everyone!

I gave a two week notice at my current job so I'll start the new one on 12/16. I'm really excited about it. I guess I've been in a bit of a rut where I am now as it wasn't as hard to give my notice as I thought it would be. I'll be working for an attorney who practices in a completely different area of the law than what I've been doing for the last 23 years and I can't wait to start! I've been doing divorce/family law and will now being doing medical malpractice from the insurance defense end.

I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. If my hours hadn't been cut I most likely would have drifted on in my current position until I was laid off. I would never have seen the ad for the new job and would have missed out on a wonderful opportunity.

How did your current boss take it? You can't beat the same money (your previous 40 hours) for less hours.