I have been told that EOE rules say that all a potential employer is able to ask of a previous employer is lenght of employment and are you eligible for rehire. Today I had to fill out some paperwork for them to contact previous supervisors for info and along with the above info there was a checklist of about seven items such as reliabiltiy, works independently. This is a big comapny and I am pretty sure they would know the rules so I am wondering if what I have always thought to be the rules are true. Even when leaving my former employer I had asked my supervisor if I would be given a good reference if contacted for a future job and he said "I am not really allowed to tell them much other than if you are eligible for rehire and you would be".
They do ask alot more questions then you think. They ask about performance ability to learn the job you were doing. They ask your previous employer if they would work with you again. They ask your previous employer if they would re-hire you again. How you work with others. If your late alot. How you work under stress. If your previous boss/HR likes you you got the job if they don't like you though. I'm sorry.
Actually employers are free to ask any number of questions about you from your previous employer including dates you were employed, if you were rehirable, what your compensation was etc. In reality this is really more about what your previous employer says. For this reason most employers say little if anything about previous employees for fear of being sued.
However in most cases your prevoius employer saying very little about you actually decreases the likelihood you will get the job you are applying for. In most cases you actually significantly benefit your chances of getting the job you applied for if your previous employer talks extensively about how great you were as an employee.
If however your previous employer refuses to give even basic information most employers take this to mean your performance was not good or there were other issues. In fact I have worked with and talked to companies that outright tell a job candidate that they were removed or will be removed from consideration because their previous employer and professional references could not be verified and would talk to them. This can be difficult because many large employers will not talk to other employers about previous employees. It is for this reason a strong LinkedIn profile with recommendations, letters of recommendation, or other professional references can really help you when the company is deciding between you and other top candidates for a position.
I hope this helps. Jason
I have always thought this to be true. Hirerable or not. That is the question. Not works independently, or self starter, or reliability. I have found that some company's provide your absenteeism which might reflect reliability, but if you have never been fired for excessive late and absences, it should not be disclosed. Question. Were you in the company of the HR person or specialist? Perhaps a supervisor? I would ask them what answers they would prefer, because you do not want to start a new job by violating the rights of the former. Strange how things have changed so radically. Philip Brockman
I have worked as an Office Manager at several companies and all that a previous employer is allowed to reference is your hire date, end date, pay rate and your position held. In an interview, they cannot ask personal questions such as if you're married, have children, etc. However, if you bring it up on your own during the interview, then it is fair game for them to ask those types of questions.