Asked for Reference After Job Offer?

PenguinForce

My job got back to me through email for two references on Wednesday even though they've already given me the offer. I thought they check references before giving the offer.

I know one of my references already completed the company's reference form and sent it back on Friday and I was told by the manager he gave me a very good reference. But Im not sure if my second reference which was my final year project supervisor did it yet.

I've asked for his permission last year as a reference to put on to my CV before my exams and he said its fine.I emailed him on Friday to see if the company has contacted him and he has yet to reply to me. I've seen him online on gmail chat multiple times so I presume he either ignored my email or too busy or he forgot which student I am.

Should I be worried if my project supervisor haven't responded or might not respond to the company that contacted him for reference? The company already gave me a start date and they've booked a medical for me for Tuesday. Although I still haven't received my contract in the post yet and sign it. The HR emailed me the scanned contract to let me review it and said that the contract will be sent out to me before I start.

I am not sure if I'm just over thinking this as this is my first proper job. But I feel worried that one reference with my final year supervisor could jeopardize my job offer.

blackbaron

Call him first thing tomorrow morning, apologise for rushing him but let him know that it's quite urgent, then thank him profusely.

Stheno

It's normal for them to do medical/references after the offer.

Them coming through with the contract is conditional on the outcome of the medical/reference checks.

Mrs OBumble

PenguinForce wrote: »

Although I still haven't received my contract in the post yet ...

Be very clear: you may have received a verbal expression of interest, but until you have it on paper you have NOT received a job offer.


But yes, you should be giving the referee a polite-but-urgent hurry-up.

PenguinForce

Since my project supervisor never given me his contact number. I plan to send him another email tomorrow morning explaining my situation to him and apologising for the rush.

Hopfully he will respond back to me this time and the thing is I don't even know if he completled the reference form already. I don't want to appear too pushy and rude

blackbaron

He's an employee of the college you attended, right? Call the college and ask to speak to him.

If he doesn't get back to you tomorrow, what's your plan then? To email him again on Tuesday?

PenguinForce

Sent an email to my lecturer yesterday morning saying how urgent it is. He replied within minutes and said he will do it today. So now I am just hoping he actually did it.

Eoin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Be very clear: you may have received a verbal expression of interest, but until you have it on paper you have NOT received a job offer.

And even a written offer with contract might be "subject to reference checks" - that's how it was written when I joined my current company.

PenguinForce

Has anyone here lost a job offer because one of their reference didn't respond back to the company?

Stheno

PenguinForce wrote: »

Has anyone here lost a job offer because one of their reference didn't respond back to the company?

Yes I know people who've not gotten jobs due to references not being provided/bad references, medicals being failed, and background checks failing

I once didn't have a job offer come through as it was subject to an extremely thorough background check and they couldn't very a course I had done. That was a bit over the top in fairness and I wasn't too concerned as I'd a second offer on the go at the time.