The perfect job, with one small problem(long)

[farmerted]

I have been looking for a new job on and off for about 6 months.  So last week I found a posting for the perfect job (well as much as you can tell from the posting) that pays great money. So I applied. I am waiting to hear about an interview.  In the mean time I find out a girl I used to work with (Sally) is now working at this company. Here's my problem.

Sally is a horrible employee. She was let go several years ago from my office during some layoffs. My bosses let her get away with everything, hanging up on costumers when she was frustrated by them, not getting her work done on time or at all (she was three years behind on a report when it was given to someone else), sending out off color email from her work account to everyone in our department, international phone calls made from her desk to guy she met in chat room, spending hours in chats rooms, the list goes on and on. Sally has never learned what it means to do your job and do it well.  She has been fired from three jobs since she was laid off from here. She normally only lasts 5 or 6 months at new job. She starts out fine then falls back into her pattern of goofing off on company time, and most companies don't let you get away with what she got away with here.

While the job I applied for is at larger company I'm afraid they are going to make the connection that we both work at the same company for our last job (she doesn't list any of the jobs she been fired from on her resume).  I am also using someone she used a reference (I know I gave a glowing reference to a person you are about to fire, but Kathy is really a good employee, trust me this time).

I know I'm getting ahead of myself because I haven't gotten call yet. At this point I'm really hoping she's cleaned up her act or that this company doesn't make the connection.

So do I put some feelers out and see how she doing at this new job (I don't want her to know I'm applying there.  I'm hoping we don't have to work together) or just cross my fingers?

Thanks for listening

kathy

[lolane]

How large is this company? In a mid to large sized company I doubt anyone will make the connection, they have probably seen hundreds if not thousands of resumes between yours and Sally's. Even in a small company the connection may not be made.

Hopefully Sally has cleaned up her act and this will be a non-issue anyway, but even if they made the connection I doubt that they would use her performace as an indicator of what your performace will be.

[farmerted]

It's big but not huge. I think have a good shot at this job.  I just don't want to be associated with her work ethic at all.

[blue2000]

Unless all the employees they have hired from your company have been people like Sally, they won't make an issue of it.

After all, they hired her, didn't they? They already know any company can make mistakes when hiring someone. 

[Shoo]

It's big but not huge. I think have a good shot at this job.  I just don't want to be associated with her work ethic at all.

If you do get the job, and you happen to be assigned anywhere near Sally, it would be in your best interests to avoid her like the plague.  You wouldn't want your new bosses and co-workers thinking you're friends with her, or associated in any way with her.  Unfortunately, when a new person starts working at a company, those that try to befriend him or her first always seem to be the people whom the others in the company have shunned for one reason or another.  I've heard it said that you should wait several weeks or months before forming any friendships with the people you work with, so you can figure out who the troublemakers are and who it is "safe" for you to be friends with.

Hopefully, Sally won't glom onto you when/if she recognizes you from your old job.

[farmerted]

I will have to work with department she in, but I'm not sure if I would have to work directly with her. She and I didn't get along very well when we worked together but she is the type to act all fake and pretend we're best friends.

[Bijou]

I have been looking for a new job on and off for about 6 months.  So last week I found a posting for the perfect job (well as much as you can tell from the posting) that pays great money. So I applied. I am waiting to hear about an interview.  In the mean time I find out a girl I used to work with (Sally) is now working at this company. Here's my problem.

Sally is a horrible employee. She was let go several years ago from my office during some layoffs. My bosses let her get away with everything, hanging up on costumers when she was frustrated by them, not getting her work done on time or at all (she was three years behind on a report when it was given to someone else), sending out off color email from her work account to everyone in our department, international phone calls made from her desk to guy she met in chat room, spending hours in chats rooms, the list goes on and on. Sally has never learned what it means to do your job and do it well.  She has been fired from three jobs since she was laid off from here. She normally only lasts 5 or 6 months at new job. She starts out fine then falls back into her pattern of goofing off on company time, and most companies don't let you get away with what she got away with here.

While the job I applied for is at larger company I'm afraid they are going to make the connection that we both work at the same company for our last job (she doesn't list any of the jobs she been fired from on her resume).  I am also using someone she used a reference (I know I gave a glowing reference to a person you are about to fire, but Kathy is really a good employee, trust me this time).

I know I'm getting ahead of myself because I haven't gotten call yet. At this point I'm really hoping she's cleaned up her act or that this company doesn't make the connection.

So do I put some feelers out and see how she doing at this new job (I don't want her to know I'm applying there.  I'm hoping we don't have to work together) or just cross my fingers?

Thanks for listening

kathy

Kathy, handle it however you feel comfortable, but personally, I would not put feelers out because it could backfire if anyone found out you were trying to get information on one of their employees.  And if the woman found out you were trying to get info about her job performance (that is what you meant, isn't it?)  it could be a real problem. 

[Verruca]

I agree with Jean - at this point, it's not your problem and it's probably inappropriate for you to act like it's your problem.

If, during the interview, they say, "We see you worked at X Co - we hired someone else who used to work there.  Do you know Sally?", you can pleasantly say, "Not well, but yes, I've worked with her," (or, if you want to send a message, "Yes, I've had to work with her,") but otherwise let it go. 

Any normal company isn't going to assume that two people have the same work ethic just because they worked at the same company for a while several years ago - and if they do, they're probably crazy enough that you wouldn't want to work there.

[farmerted]

Thanks for the advise. She's just the bad coworker who won't go away.

kathy

[Lisbeth]

I think your best course of action is to ignore Sally at this point and just make the most professional appearance you can at your interview.

If you are hired, again, do your best at your own job and avoid Sally as best you can.  If you have to work with her, make it clear that you are not responsible for Sally's mistakes but don't bring up the past to your other co-workers.  That would look unprofessional.

[TaylorMade]

Don't forget though, that you don't know how Sally is doing at this particular job.

Sally could be their star employee!  They could love her and praise her 24/7.  I would definitely not attempt to exclude her and/or make any comments that would be construed negatively during the interview or during the first few months at work if you are hired.