Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: James Schmid said: I don't need a call. I do understand the courtesy aspect of it. Maybe I've been in California too long, but another consideration here is respect for the potential employee. If we don't have the express permission of the employee and we end up making a call to his current employer, who's to say current employer doesn't show him the door at the end of the day, leaving the employee in limbo, having been fired from current job, and not yet hired to new job.
It's entirely up to the job seeker to tell a potential employer that he does not want his current employer to be contacted.
Or it's not. For higher level positions its typically a confidential process unless express consent is given. Why should we not afford our employees or potential employees the same level of respect.
Most superintendents, when searching for a job while currently employed, would hope that their potential employer would keep their application confidential. Ask the headhunters out there if they typically see candidates that are ok with their current employer being contacted without consent.