Dartmouth HR/ER requires that they speak with your boss before they will hire you. This practice is highly inappropriate and came as a complete surprise. Obviously, candidates do not want to share their job search with their current or previous manager and they shouldn't have to. In addition, many employer's don't want their supervisors verifying employment due to liability purposes and ask that any employment and reference verifications go through a third party or a specific process (i.e., as not to be personal in nature), so not offering someone a job on this basis is wholly unfair. Candidates have no control over this and should not be penalized over this ridiculous made- up- rule. Last but not least, your release forms are general and do not indicate that hiring is dependent on a favorable reference from current/previous supervisor. You should be honest about this- because once again you are using this as a basis to make hiring decisions. (Yes, you did this with me.) As I read in other testimonials, it is never disclosed up front, but mentioned after the interview, and mentioned as "oh I forgot to mention...but before we send you this offer, I just need to speak to your boss.... We won't be able to move forward with the offer without a conversation between myself and your boss. " Don't put your valuable time and energy into this institution as they will literally throw it away if they don't get to speak to your boss on their terms. Absolute insanity. I can't imagine how many wonderful candidates they have lost out on due to horrible bosses that didn't want to let their people go or who had an axe to grind. It is too late to help myself. But maybe this will help one person. Dartmouth- Please stop this practice.