5 ms·

In fact, in many industries, the most that HR people (and sometimes employees) are allowed to say is the employment start and end dates

by niggler 14y ago

Domenic_S 14y ago
It seems so strange to me. We share the articles we read, we comment all over the internet (sometimes using our real names), we share and publicize our code on Github, send tweets into the eternal ether, post pictures of us and our families -- but ask someone I worked with what they think of me and OMG THAT'S SO TERRIBLE, IMMORAL, AND POSSIBLY ILLEGAL. The dichotomy blows my mind. You should be proud of your career and the impact you've made.
- niggler 14y ago
  Lemme explain why it matters: Suppose we were coworkers, and you found out that I was entertaining a job offer with another company. How would you react? Would you be asking me to do more work (knowing that I might not be there soon)? No, most likely you would try to wind down any work we were mutually involved with, in anticipation of my announcement. Take it to the next level. If my boss found out I was looking for a new job, I'd be on very thin ice. The boss wouldn't entrust me with any long-term or cool project, nor would he give me a promotion unless there was a strong sense that he could retain me by giving a promotion. And even if I did stay on, it would still nag at the boss and would forever tarnish the working relationship. The problem isn't the actual opinion. It's really the ramifications of others knowing you are looking for a job. And that's something I do care about, regardless of how proud I am of my career. (and for the record, I am proud of my accomplishments :)
- michaelochurch 14y ago
  The dichotomy blows my mind. You should be proud of your career and the impact you've made. If you've done anything worth being proud of, then it's likely that some people will hate your guts and want to sabotage you-- and powerful people are more likely than average to dislike you. A roulette game in one's career (back-channel references) that one didn't ask for is undesirable to anyone.
- BSousa 14y ago
  Let's suppose I was a super programmer that made the company millions, but I also slept with the boss's girlfriend. If someone asks the boss for a reference, what do you think will motivate the boss more? The million of dollars or the fact I slept with his girlfriend? This is exaggerated of course, but it isn't uncommon, specially at large companies, to be a good professional, but have personal issues with some of the people there.
  - niggler 14y ago
    "The dichotomy blows my mind. You should be proud of your career and the impact you've made." "but I also slept with the boss's girlfriend." Strictly speaking, this is an example of an impact that you probably shouldn't be proud of.
    - michaelochurch 14y ago
      Strictly speaking, this is an example of an impact that you probably shouldn't be proud of. Excellent point. Character matters. Ethics matter. A lot. If someone makes millions of dollars but is still doing bad things, that's not a person to be in business with. The problem with workplace character metrics (e.g. reference checks) is that they do a poor job of measuring it, getting caught on superficial stuff.
  - sk5t 14y ago
    The money, easily. Have you not been around people for long?
- Smudge 14y ago
  It's not a dichotomy. It's risk aversion. When we share/publicize our work and ideas, we have control over what people see/hear. When it comes to references, we do not have control. One bad reference (from a spiteful co-worker, a bad manager, or anything else we're trying to leave behind us) can ruin a job opportunity, or even a career.

In fact, in many industries, the most that HR people (and sometimes employees) are allowed to say is the employment start and end dates

by niggler 14y ago

In fact, in many industries, the most that HR people (and sometimes employees) are allowed to say is the employment start and end dates

Domenic_S 14y ago

It seems so strange to me. We share the articles we read, we comment all over the internet (sometimes using our real names), we share and publicize our code on Github, send tweets into the eternal ether, post pictures of us and our families -- but ask someone I worked with what they think of me and OMG THAT'S SO TERRIBLE, IMMORAL, AND POSSIBLY ILLEGAL. The dichotomy blows my mind. You should be proud of your career and the impact you've made.

niggler 14y ago
Lemme explain why it matters: Suppose we were coworkers, and you found out that I was entertaining a job offer with another company. How would you react? Would you be asking me to do more work (knowing that I might not be there soon)? No, most likely you would try to wind down any work we were mutually involved with, in anticipation of my announcement. Take it to the next level. If my boss found out I was looking for a new job, I'd be on very thin ice. The boss wouldn't entrust me with any long-term or cool project, nor would he give me a promotion unless there was a strong sense that he could retain me by giving a promotion. And even if I did stay on, it would still nag at the boss and would forever tarnish the working relationship. The problem isn't the actual opinion. It's really the ramifications of others knowing you are looking for a job. And that's something I do care about, regardless of how proud I am of my career. (and for the record, I am proud of my accomplishments :)
michaelochurch 14y ago
The dichotomy blows my mind. You should be proud of your career and the impact you've made. If you've done anything worth being proud of, then it's likely that some people will hate your guts and want to sabotage you-- and powerful people are more likely than average to dislike you. A roulette game in one's career (back-channel references) that one didn't ask for is undesirable to anyone.
BSousa 14y ago
Let's suppose I was a super programmer that made the company millions, but I also slept with the boss's girlfriend. If someone asks the boss for a reference, what do you think will motivate the boss more? The million of dollars or the fact I slept with his girlfriend? This is exaggerated of course, but it isn't uncommon, specially at large companies, to be a good professional, but have personal issues with some of the people there.
- niggler 14y ago
  "The dichotomy blows my mind. You should be proud of your career and the impact you've made." "but I also slept with the boss's girlfriend." Strictly speaking, this is an example of an impact that you probably shouldn't be proud of.
  - michaelochurch 14y ago
    Strictly speaking, this is an example of an impact that you probably shouldn't be proud of. Excellent point. Character matters. Ethics matter. A lot. If someone makes millions of dollars but is still doing bad things, that's not a person to be in business with. The problem with workplace character metrics (e.g. reference checks) is that they do a poor job of measuring it, getting caught on superficial stuff.
- sk5t 14y ago
  The money, easily. Have you not been around people for long?
Smudge 14y ago
It's not a dichotomy. It's risk aversion. When we share/publicize our work and ideas, we have control over what people see/hear. When it comes to references, we do not have control. One bad reference (from a spiteful co-worker, a bad manager, or anything else we're trying to leave behind us) can ruin a job opportunity, or even a career.