I need help to learn to do something to help out a friend.
A friend is suspicious that a former employer might be giving out bad information on her when references are being checked. I told her I'd consider calling them, pretending to be a potential employer, to make certain nothing is awry in the background work.
Problem is, I've never done this before. What would be the pitfalls? Is it always a returned call? And only dates of employment, eligibility to return, and job title can be given out? What info do I need to provide as a prospective employer?
Thank you.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Depending on the nature of their previous employer, it's often a call-back simply because the person is not available at the time you call...but it's not always a call back. There are ways around this being a snag on call-backs...the person I was faux-hiring was a chef so I pretended to be an employer seeking a private-chef/caretaker (like a babysitter/driver, not like a home health aide) for my aging mother. That way when I answered the phone as myself, it was no issue. They called expecting to reach Chan790, private citizen; they got Chan790, private citizen. They didn't know me as a contact or friend of the employee.
I don't know what the pitfalls would be. I'm not sure there are any, other than potential retribution against the employee if you get caught. You shouldn't get caught, you'd have to be just about an idiot to do so. It's not illegal; you're not law-enforcement so it's not even entrapment. It's not illegal to request a job-reference on false pretenses and there is no way (other than you admitting it) to prove you were requesting one on false pretenses if it were. (Lots of people hire their friends and still seek references.) It's unlikely unless you start arguing with them that they would even figure out you were not on the up-and-up. Just call, ask for the reference, write down what they say, thank them. If there's an issue with the reference, thank them. Let them think it was actually an employment reference regardless. If the reference is bad, encourage your friend to seek legal advice.
Yes, generally those are the only things they will give out. It's a liability issue...if they say anything more and it causes someone to not get a job, they can be sued and the onus is on them to prove their assertions. They can certainly volunteer more good information. ("Ilsa was the best employee I ever had and I was sad to see her go.", "Ilsa was the best proofreader I've ever seen."
They shouldn't be giving out neutral or bad information. ("Ilsa chews with her mouth open.", "Ilsa has an annoying laugh.", "Ilsa is consistently 5 minutes late to everything, all the time, every day." You can pressure them to give out bad information ("C'mon, tell me why they really left." ...many potential employers do, especially private citizens and small business owners; trained HR people know better.
Just don't go overboard or you'll give yourself away.
