Resume/Job Search HELP

Does anyone know if an prospective employer is allowed to call a previous employer who is listed on your resume, even if you didn't provide them as a reference.

My sister is applying for jobs now and had a really bad personal conflict (sexual harassment) with a past employer. She wants to list the experience on her resume since it is in the same field. But, she does not want this person to be contacted, since she does not know what he'll say about her.

Should she leave it off her resume all together?

Thanks for your help

I don't think she should leave it off all together, it's relevant experience. She can go to the interview and if they are serious about her, they are supposed to tell you that they are contacting your references. You normally provide the employer with a list of references. They are not supposed to just call, the only way they can do that is if they are just confirming that you worked there, that's it - no detailed questions etc. They can only ask detailed questions from the list of references you provide them. If the prospective employer asks why they can't call the place she had a problem with, she can just say she had a legal issue with them (or tell them something along those lines), but to please go ahead and call to confirm dates of employment. Hope that helps

I had a terrible leaving at my last job but I had to put them as a reference when I fill out applications. I called HR and spoke to the rep and told her I do not want any of my information released. She said fine, if asked she will simply say yes I was employeed their from this day to this day and thats it.

I know they cant discuss your salary.

as far as her job performance or her as employee I dont think they can discuss much into great detail or her the sexual harrassement incident because its a legal matter.

I would suggest leaving it on her resume but as references maybe listing someone she was and is still friends with who will giver her a good ref. Its what I did. I had a terrible ending but I have one person that is my friend and he is my only reference. Him and the HR rep.

edited for grammer, sentence structure and spelling

I am not really sure but I think if you just put it on your resume they don't contact them because usually you don't put phone numbers on the resume anyway. But when she goes in to fill out an application then she would list the phone numbers; she should read through the application thoroughly before she signs it at the end, they will tell you who they contact. Some applications will ask you to check off yes or no for each person whether they can be contacted. Anyway, they have to let you know in some way that they are going to contact the person before they do it. So
yes, I think she can list that employer on her resume.

That is true, they cant do anything without your knowledge and consent. So if she says she prefers they not call that last employeer due to a legal issue which she can not discuss they cant do it.

most companies won't provide past employment information other to confirm length of employment and position (for fear of being sued). Have them call HR if they need that information, rather than the old boss.

Don't put this person as a professional reference, but do list the experience.

It is my understanding that it is illegal for them an employer to say anything bad about you - other than when you worked etc.

NOW having said that - I KNOW that employers talk freely all the time. But the problem is you would have to prove that they said something negative about you - which is very hard

I had a bad experience with a person calling a former boss then getting a rejection letter and when I called the HR person they accussed me of lying when I didnt and that was it they hung up on me so I had absolutly no idea what was said to them from my old employeer and I have no way of even proving it.

I think their are agencies but you have to pay that do backgroud checks and see if they employeer says things they arent suppose too.