[tigerlily84]

Just wondering if I could get some advice on this. I work in a call center and I need to get out of there. I have a degree and I've recently been passed up on a promotion by someone that has only worked there for a few months. I've worked at my current job for 4 years, and 10 years ago I worked there briefly as well. So quite a bit of my job history is with this company. Is it smart to let my current employer know that I'm looking for another job?

Any advice that I can be given is much appreciated.

[kaliope]

I don't see the harm in checking yes on a job application for them to contact your current employer. I see two possible scenarios here....either they do not value you, since you were passed up for a promotion for someone that has been there for such a short time, so they will not care that you are looking for another job or they will let you know that they value you when someone calls to check on you. and that would be a win for you. take care.

[Perna]

I generally give references or make up a "boss" who is sympathetic to me; if the company you work with is large, they'll call human resources who will only confirm/deny you worked that on X dates for Y salary (whatever you have put on your application) and not say anything personal about you/your situation because they could get sued.

[tigerlily84]

Thank you both for your replies!

It hurts to think that they don't value me since I've been there for so long. But I don't believe that they do. I'm going to just mark 'yes' and then I'll make up a 'boss.'

[Perna]

Tell the person you "make up" the situation so they can be prepared if they get a call. I think usually they just ask for "personnel" or whatever and whoever is there is trained to give canned answers like "yes, worked here, these dates, what salary do you have? Yes, that's correct". If it's a really small place, you might have a person who might talk but it should not hurt you if s/he tells someone a call was made about you; since you have been there that long, they could well be concerned and will rightly put it on the boss change, either that you wanted to be boss and they skipped you (which reflects well on you, that you wanted and expected to be that) or that something is wrong with the guy they put in that position, that someone who has been there "steady" all this time is suddenly wanting out.

[H3rmit]

Originally Posted by Perna

I generally give references or make up a "boss" who is sympathetic to me;

What do you mean, by "make up a boss"? Please spell this out for me, as I am baffled.

Also, I would never tick this box if I saw it. It is obvious it could threaten your position, that they'll start searching for a replacement - and replace you, after you train the new person!

[tinyrabbit]

I don't tick this box. I wait until I'm offered the job, then supply references.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by H3rmit

What do you mean, by "make up a boss"? Please spell this out for me, as I am baffled.

Also, I would never tick this box if I saw it. It is obvious it could threaten your position, that they'll start searching for a replacement - and replace you, after you train the new person!

If you do not check yes, there is a good chance they will not consider you for the new job as you obviously have a "problem" with your current job. I have rarely come across such a box; without the box they can call whomever they wish/whenever they wish; it may look like they are being thoughtful by asking if they can call or not but it just raises a red flag if you do not check the box.

Many places do not have a straightforward line of command and/or one can get along with someone over one's immediate boss's head or someone in personnel, etc. so the line on the application form about who your "boss" or who they should call, etc. you give a friendly vice president's name or owner of the company or good friend who trained you, someone other than the person you are arguing with.

I don't care if they start searching for a replacement, they will probably not lay you off or fire you, they will assume you are looking for a job and just be getting themselves in a better place for when you give notice of leaving. You are already trained and they have no basis for replacing you unless you literally are leaving. Yes, they could make it unpleasant so you want to leave even more, but that's why you are looking at other places/leaving in the first place. It just confirms your opinion of them, that they are not where you want to work anymore. On the other hand, people they talk to could be alarmed because they really like you and think you're great and don't realize there's a problem and work to correct the problem so they don't lose you.

If I had a boss I didn't like I'd go to someone higher up on the food chain and tell them I was thinking of leaving and why and what I would like (different department/boss, more money, additional training/consideration to become a supervisor, etc.). Assuming what is going on in the organization and what other people are thinking/know can be a bad idea if you are not interested in leaving anyway for your own/other reasons. If you are interested in leaving; what anyone thinks of you and your decisions, one doesn't really care? No one gets bad-mouthed anymore because there's too much fear of being sued; that's how losers become one's bosses in the first place sometimes, no one investigates too closely or gives too much "useful" information; just don't lie about your salary and how long you worked a place.

[tinyrabbit]

Originally Posted by Perna

If you do not check yes, there is a good chance they will not consider you for the new job as you obviously have a "problem" with your current job.

In the UK, it's completely accepted that you wouldn't tell your current boss you're looking elsewhere.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by tinyrabbit

In the UK, it's completely accepted that you wouldn't tell your current boss you're looking elsewhere.

Yes, it is generally assumed you would not tell a current job you were looking for a new job but do they have this box? The box forces the issue, makes it look like you could have something to hide; it's the kind of box that, when you see it, I think you should think twice about working for that place where you are applying.

You would not tell a current boss but that is not the question, the question is can we call them? :-) Devious.

If you think about it, they can do whatever they want, with/without the box; they are allowed to check up on what you write on the application so the question looks "nice" but that is not its purpose I don't think.

[Rose76]

It might be worth while to ask your employer if you could get some constructive feedback on what has stalled your progress at your current job. You could phrase it along the lines of "What sort of improvement could I make that might lead to me advancing?" Then listen quietly and resist any temptation to get defensive. Just thank the supervisor for the feedback.

You need to figure out if your lack of advancement is due to staying at this particular job, or to some problem that you will take with you wherever you go. It could be some of both. I notice you say in your status that you are "trying to figure out" what you want. People who have a firm, solid idea of what they do want tend to have a lot of focus and that can really organize their whole approach to life. I've never been that way, myself. My own life is a testament to the maxim: "If you haven't got a target, then don't be surprised if you don't hit it."

You don't sound fascinated by this job. If you're a smart person, that could be part of the problem. Jobs we are really passionate about can be hard to come by. You are right to be cautious about letting your current employer know you are shopping around. I agree with much of what's been said above.

[Sharp_Lace]

I do not tell a current employer I'm looking for work and I put that they cannot contact my current employer.
I can't have a possible job oppurtunity compromise the job I actually have. And there is no telling how long after I fill out this application that they will still be able to pull it up and check it out.

Also if they think that is unreasonable, that I don't want them contacting the employer I have now. I probably don't want to work for them.

[anna_goth27]

Originally Posted by tinyrabbit

I don't tick this box. I wait until I'm offered the job, then supply references.

Yeah same here. Generally the fee times I have looked at other jobs I have kindly asked the interviewers if they would not contact my current employer until further into the interview process. They are usually understanding and sensitve to the fact that them contacting your employers early can be problematic for you and so withhold contact.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

[healingme4me]

I have checked, yes, before, and have had the ability to write in, after interview. It gives the new prospective employer the semblance, that you've nothing to hide, about your current position, yet, informs them, that you value employment, and that expresses, that an employer being contacted, without something being in the works, could be detrimental.

Reference checks, are time consuming, so to me, it seems that most employers wait, until they are a little more serious, before conducting reference checks.

Hope you find something.