I applied for a position as a business reporter for a fairly large newspaper and, after a very good initial phone conversation but no discussion about a proper interview, he called into my current newsroom and started randomly asking several editors for references on my work.
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Needless to say, my current editor was not happy at all and basically let it be known that if I was going to look around for other jobs, I didn't need to be in his newsroom. I talked my way out of getting fired, and I let the other editor know I didn't appreciate his actions. Have you heard of this happening before?
I've been a reporter for 15 years, and I have never had an editor have such low regard for an applicant's current job situation.
Burned
I agree. That was unprofessional and not very smart.
It is unprofessional to start making such calls to a prospect's employers without permission. As you have found, such calls can put a person's standing in jeopardy and should be saved for much later in the selection process. Some employers might make early calls if they are part of a media outlet in the same company, but it seems unnecessary to make several.
It is also unwise for employers to make reference calls too early, as this could trigger the employer's counter-strategy so early in the process that it will become impossible to lure the candidate away.
You're lucky you didn't go work for people who make such basic mistakes. I'm glad you could recover with your current editor who, incidentally, might have been smarter to use something other than a threat to counter this outside interest.
Coming Monday: This intern has done a good job and has been granted an extension. She wonders now whether she must stop her job hunt until the extension is completed.
