Answering "YES/NO" to contacting current employer?

1 How bad does it look if you say no?

I mean, I certainly would never leave an employer high & dry without plenty of notice, but I don't really want any boss of mine knowing that I'm checking out the scene until anything is decided, you know? For one thing, it's my own business and of course I also don't want any undue anxiety being an issue.

I must admit I'm dumb to the process, though. Isn't this employer contact usually something that's done AFTER a potential employer has pretty much decided to hire you on? If that's the case, then of course I don't mind.. because by that point I would have told my current employer anyway. But I'm just wondering what the general opinion is... never seen the question asked, I guess.
Be aware that some prospective employers will call the former employer even though you check "do not contact" on your application. That little tidbit never occurred to me until I read about it a few years back and the idea made sense to me. I almost always check "do not contact" out of habit.

I don't think it looks bad. That's why they ask - they understand that people may not want their current employer knowing that they're looking.

One of my applications has a box for why you did not want your old boss to be contacted. I had one boss that I had no idea where he was, so I checked no. It was when I worked at Kodak and our whole division (and building) was gone. I think they are quite aware that some people are not going to want their current employer to know they are looking. So I agree, I don't think it looks bad as long as all of them aren't "do not contact".

Most employers aren't juveniles about their staff moving to new jobs. There's always something that would be a better fit, you know?I, personally, would never put "don't contact" just if *I* were doing the hiring and saw that checked the immediate reaction would be "Oh they're DEFINITELY hiding something!"Many states have laws against the employers bad mouthing former or soon to be former employees. That being said, check the "sure go ahead". I'd be less likely to follow up with current employers if that was the case!Finally, sometimes giving them a heads up saying, "I found this really sweet job I couldn't pass up. I put in an application. I don't really see myself getting the job, but I said it was OK to contact the current employer. I just wanted to let you know you might hear something from them so it's not a shock!"Truth always wins.Finally putting things on applications (as for the person that worked for Kodak that their division was disbanded and office closed) where there's not blanks is acceptable for extenuating circumstances. There's also blanks on some forms that you can put comments or additions such as this.Good luck job hunting!

Well, it's not that I'm hiding anything or worried about bad mouthing at all, just would prefer no contact. But I do see what you're saying and would likely have the same reactions if I were doing the hiring.I guess it's just that I'm so wishy-washy in my feelings for my job right now and where/when to go next, that even *I* don't know what I want. Some of the apps I'm putting in aren't even something I'm sure I'd like but I want to get feelers out. I dunno.. So this is why I definitely wouldn't want any added drama I guess.. it sucks being a first-year nurse, sucks even more being a confused first-year nurse. I guess you have all these big dreams for coming out of school and LOVING your new career, and I've just not hit that mark yet.

it depends, if you sold yourself good enough at an interview and/or they are desparate, it matters less/none if you check yes or no, because you've got the job. however, if it's a close call between you and others (more likely the case in this economy), checking yes or no matters.

Quote from SoClose!Well, it's not that I'm hiding anything or worried about bad mouthing at all, just would prefer no contact. But I do see what you're saying and would likely have the same reactions if I were doing the hiring.I guess it's just that I'm so wishy-washy in my feelings for my job right now and where/when to go next, that even *I* don't know what I want. Some of the apps I'm putting in aren't even something I'm sure I'd like but I want to get feelers out. I dunno.. So this is why I definitely wouldn't want any added drama I guess.. it sucks being a first-year nurse, sucks even more being a confused first-year nurse. I guess you have all these big dreams for coming out of school and LOVING your new career, and I've just not hit that mark yet.

AIUI , based on UK practice it usually can we contact your referees before we interview (i.e. after shortlisting) you or only after interview if we are seriously thinking about employing

I'm sorry I tend to disagree with "Truth Always Wins". I was honest and you know what it got me...laid off!

I tend to check 'do not contact'. Things can get very dicey when they know for a fact that you are looking for something else. Sometimes, supervisors take it personally, some are upset because they worry about who to hire to take your place, sometimes, additional responsibilities are assigned to workers that they trust because they know that particular employee is efficient...many reasons.I have seen it happen more than enough times to other people that it is best to be as discrete as possible with the current employer.

In the past I have put "Only when definite job offer is made" next to this question.