Hey guys. I’m applying for a job at an Amazon subsidiary, and there’s a checkbox to verify and inquire current and former employers about my status and character/ability. My company is VERY small (no dedicated HR department), and they do not know I’m looking elsewhere. My boss would definitely find out, and she is known for being incredibly vindictive (one of the reasons I’m leaving). What does the verification look like? Will they contact my current employer and just verify I work there? Should I mention on my cover letter that I’m stealth searching? Not an SWE/coding/tech position, by the way.
They wouldn't check until they made you an offer.
I’m nervous about what my company would say regarding my work. My company has an INSANE management culture ingrained: paranoia, revenge... For example, there’s replies to all of our (truthful) negative Glassdoor reviews online showing how petty our managers are. We’ve had 8 people leave the company in 6 months, and we’re less than 30 people. I am trying to get out, but it’s scary to think the rug could be pulled out from me before I’m ready or Amazon would rescind their offer based on someone’s made-up BS.
I think you're mixing up references with employment verification. They might contact your company to verify employment dates and maybe role but not ask for reference if you haven't designated someone from your current company to be one
Provide pay stubs and tell them not to contact
Third party companies run the background checks. Nothing else besides your employment, education and criminal history will be relayed back to Amazon
Okay, that makes me feel loads better. Just worried about being retaliated against at my current job if Amazon passes on me.
Do they ask for a list of people references and contact only those? Or do they go digging on LinkedIn and contact whomever?
They won't. Amazon doesn't do background checks
Really? It’s just very surprising to only have one option on this application to inherently accept them contacting current AND former employers.
I should've added for tech positions