Current Employer and Background

[Adam_Smith]

Here's my question. I have a background, psych, and medical left. I don't want to put that it is ok to contact my current employer for my background because I don't have a final job offer.

Is this OK and will it raise red flags? What are people's thoughts on this? Of course I will put an explanation about why it is not ok to contact them.

For the record, I currently have a career type job and am not a lifeguard at the local pool for the summer. I don't think my current employer would take kindly to getting a call from a BI especially when I haven't told them that I am leaving yet.

Captain Bob, if we can refrain from the spam about 40% of the people fail the psych and this that and the other canned responses that would be super.

Yours Truly,

Adam

[powerhourcoug]

If I were in your shoes I would reach out to the BI directly and explain your situation. Diffuse it before it becomes a red flag.

Are there any co-workers who can vouch for you?

[TL678]

99% of the time contacting current employer is the very last thing done before offering you a job.

[Adam_Smith]

HR is sending my packet and expect to receive it tomorrow or Monday. I don't think I will have the option to reach out to the investigator. I do have people that I can put but I don't want to put my direct supervisor.

It does make sense that they would contact my direct supervisor last. I just would like to be able to give her a heads up but don't really want to say anything until I give my notice.

[paulLepore]

I would call the background investigator and explain your concerns. He or she will completely understand (and hopefully respect your wishes).
Good luck with the process!

[fire49]

Some applications have a box to check if you want your job contacted

If there is not one would place a note to please contact at late in the process as possible

We do it early into the process prior to oral and job offers

[JayDudley]

Backgrounds

I'm sure Chief Lepore would correct me if I'm wrong but when we did backgrounds for the department we worked for together we did backgrounds on those who were picked to be hired and this was the last stage in the process. If you didn't pass your background then you were out....if you passed it you were in.

[TL678]

I'm sure Chief Lepore would correct me if I'm wrong but when we did backgrounds for the department we worked for together we did backgrounds on those who were picked to be hired and this was the last stage in the process. If you didn't pass your background then you were out....if you passed it you were in.

This is how the process was explained to me.

[Adam_Smith]

They've already told me when academy starts and I just don't want to leave anything to chance. And while I would love to tell my current employer I am leaving and give them plenty of notice, I think it would be prudent to wait until I have a final job offer.

[fire49]

So do you think that you told them that you are interested in the future, in a fire career

That they would fire you???

[Adam_Smith]

No but it would be awkward and they may start trying to find someone to replace me. I have a very intense office type job. Super unfun. I send a lot of important emails.

[TL678]

They've already told me when academy starts and I just don't want to leave anything to chance. And while I would love to tell my current employer I am leaving and give them plenty of notice, I think it would be prudent to wait until I have a final job offer.

You don't have to give them notice until you know 100% that you got it. If your worried about your boss bad mouthing you don't. All your, employer is allowed to say is you work their and if your eligible for rehire.

[paulLepore]

Actually your employer has the right to say anything about you in a background examination. You will sign a bunch of forms that absolve any employer from saying something bad about you. Translated, you waive your rights once you sign all of the forms. If you rfuse to sign the forms, we will move on to the next person on the list.

There seems to be a thought that YOU have a right as a prospective employee. This is not the case. We will check every which place to see that you are the right person for our organization. If you refuse to sign the documentation that allows us unconditional access, which includes your facebook and every other social network password, we will move on to the next candidate. Let me be very clear; IN NO WAY ARE YOU IN CONTROL!!!!!!

Jay, you are aboslutely correct. The last thing we do is contact your employer if this is your wish. We do not want to make it difficult on you until we are certain that we want to hire you.

[norcalmedic]

We will check every which place to see that you are the right person for our organization. If you refuse to sign the documentation that allows us unconditional access, which includes your facebook and every other social network password, we will move on to the next candidate. Let me be very clear; IN NO WAY ARE YOU IN CONTROL!!!!!!

Please clarify for me. Are you saying that I would need to give my username/password to allow the investigator "unconditional access" to social networking sites. Which now would include access to my email?

[Courtguy]

I find it hard to believe that a recruit has to give a prospective employer your passwords lol. Talk about invasion of privacy. There would be lawsuits left and right if that were true. I think the Chief was being sarcastic or exaggerating.