Job reference request - what do they mean?

Khalim

Hi all,

I have a question here - might be straightforward - thanks all the same.

the question is: what do requests for references mean in the scheme of things?

in view of

a) Prospective employer - has said that they wanted me to work for them but need references from my current employer - is this like a job offer or just a standard check on work experience, and is it within their right to withdraw from negotiations to employ me?

b) Current employer - I haven't yet told my current employer that i'm planning on leaving. Should I inform them first that another company will be seeking references from them? Would the reference request be an indication to them that I will be leaving in the near future?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Khalim

seamus

Play it whatever way you want it.

Normally, an employer will only contact your references after they have offered you a job and you accept. Basically, they just want to make sure that you have the experience you say, and you're not lying to them. If they ring up said company who go, "Nope, never heard of him" or "Oh, yeah, he was a right prick, we fired him for stealing money from other workers' bags", then they might withdraw the offer.

You have to take a tiny risk here. You need to accept the other guy's job, tell your current job that you're leaving, and assume they'll give you a satisfactory reference.

Have you any reason to believe otherwise?

leeroybrown

If employers went around looking for references from the current employers of prospective employees without having decided to employ someone the HR world would be in a mess. Normally a full reference/qualification check is only done subsequent to them deciding to offer you the job.

Khalim

Thanks for the quick replies.

I kinda felt that was the situation but wanted to make sure.

I'm pretty sure they'd give a proper reference and all - its just that I feel a little daunted about the prospect of leaving my first proper job. These guys have been like a family for me.

well, thanks again for the quick replies.

Khalim

pebble

Generally when it comes to references from your current employer, your prospective employer will only ask the sort of things they need to know, like job title, length of service, etc.
It will usually be a HR thing.

If you want to start giving personal references, then thats your business, but make sure they are ones you trust

Oh, and never tell your employer you are leaving until you are handing in your resignation.

HOWEVER...

I have seen someone escorted off site after a month because their rferences didn't check out. But if you lie about what you have done then you run the risk!

Khalim

mmm...okay - i'm becoming a bit confused...

would you recommend i tell my current employers to expect a phone call asking for references or could i just let the prospective employers just ring them out of the blue?

i was thinking of telling them first - so they could get over any initial shock and all that.

i'd better get this done quick - the bosses will be away on holiday soon.

seamus

Sort it all out when you hand in your resignation.

"I'm leaving in x weeks"
"Oh right, what are you going to do?"
"Well, I've been offered another job doing y with company z"
"Ah very good, right well if you need a reference, that's no problem."

If they don't offer to be a referee, ask them. Don't allow yourself to walk out of that office without getting him to be a reference.

Employers get calls out of the blue all the time about references. I had to ring an old boss once and ask her to answer her phone because she kept ignoring the new job who were trying to ring her - she thought they were trying to scab jobs for students from her.

pebble

Khalim wrote:

would you recommend i tell my current employers to expect a phone call asking for references or could i just let the prospective employers just ring them out of the blue?.

Nope, not your problem.

Some employers have been known to do nasty things to employees they know are looking for jobs.

Don't worry about it, let HR deal with it. That's their job. The first your boss shuld know is you hand in your notice.

Unless your boss is your sister, and your HR department is your mother....