Using current employers as references

user.name

What do yous think? Some jobs ive applied for require you to add your refs on application. I dont have much of an option now coming to chosing references my current employer and education based is all i have. I dont mind giving this information it is just the fear of another comany calling my employers before i even got a job and if i didnt get the job it wouldnt look good. I usually put references available on request on my cv but not all online applications allow your cv now

jive

dont do that, jaysus. give a fake one if you have to but don't give one from your current employer who doesn't even know your leaving, imagine that phone call

Chattastrophe!

You shouldn't put anyone down as a reference without asking them in advance. If your employer doesn't know you're looking for a job elsewhere, and you don't want them to know, definitely don't put them as a reference!

Mr. Loverman

Using your current employer, especially if you have to keep it a secret, is 100% a bad idea.

If I was interviewing someone and they said "Don't ring the reference yet, it is my current employer, they don't know I am looking for a new job, and they don't know I have used them as a reference", I would think the person is extremely unprofessional and unreliable and would not consider hiring them, regardless of how good their interview was.

You need to find other references.

Jim2007

user.name wrote: »

What do yous think? Some jobs ive applied for require you to add your refs on application. I dont have much of an option now coming to chosing references my current employer and education based is all i have. I dont mind giving this information it is just the fear of another comany calling my employers before i even got a job and if i didnt get the job it wouldnt look good. I usually put references available on request on my cv but not all online applications allow your cv now

Just because a question is asked, does not mean you have to answer. Simply put 'References will be provided once mutual interest has been established' - do not give your current employer at this stage.

Berserker

Jim2007 wrote: »

Just because a question is asked, does not mean you have to answer. Simply put 'References will be provided once mutual interest has been established' - do not give your current employer at this stage.

I have plenty of referees but I have never and would never put them on my c.v. or an application form. Once you have secured the job, you can reveal your references.

gandalf

You never give your references out until they are provisionally making you a job offer. No decent potential employer will expect you to give your current employer as a reference. The only exception to this is where you are being made redundant through no fault of your own.

If your current job is your first then line up people who would know you well as alternative references. Teachers, Head of Departments in University, Club management (if you are involved in a sporting club) for example.

Always contact your references before you give out their names, I do this even if they gave their permission in the past to be used as a reference that way they don't get a call out of the blue.

MrBobbyZ

Its shocking how often this happens. I have been a manager for 12 years and in that time I have lost count of the amount of times I have received a call to give a reference for someone who has not asked for permission to use me as a referee.
To be honest much of the time its a case of trying to remember what the past employee was like!

I have also received calls for existing employees, and you can imagine how that phone call goes.

Dont do it OP. Just be honest with the interviewer if the question comes up. Any prospective employer should understand your situation.

the_syco

user.name wrote: »

What do yous think

Firstly, if your boss is called, but as he doesn't know your name (esp if it's a big company), he'll just say you don't work there.

Secondly, if you even think of moving up within your current job, you'll never get the chance if the employer cops that you're looking to get out.

Stheno

gandalf wrote: »

You never give your references out until they are provisionally making you a job offer. No decent potential employer will expect you to give your current employer as a reference.
.

I have had this happen a couple of times, where part of the recruitment process included a background check, and it was mandatory to provide contact details for the current employer.

It does happen tbh

KERSPLAT!

I've an interview coming up and on the forms it asks for current employer details but also asks, can we contact this employer and if not, when can we. Could I say that I'd prefer if they didn't until a position is offered to me?

Stheno

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

I've an interview coming up and on the forms it asks for current employer details but also asks, can we contact this employer and if not, when can we. Could I say that I'd prefer if they didn't until a position is offered to me?

Yes that's what I would do.

KERSPLAT!

Aye, well that's the plan, we'll see how it goes!

Stheno

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Aye, well that's the plan, we'll see how it goes!

Best of luck!

gandalf

Stheno wrote: »

I have had this happen a couple of times, where part of the recruitment process included a background check, and it was mandatory to provide contact details for the current employer.

It does happen tbh

That is absolutely crazy.

I'd ask them the question if they got a call regarding one of their current employees from a new prospective employer/competitor would that effect their perception of that employee and would it damage that employees career and internal reputation within the organisation? (any answer other than a yes is a lie btw!)

The only way I would agree to giving current employer details and them being contacted is if they are contacting the current employer after a job offer has been issued and provisionally accepted by you. I would not consider this under any other circumstances.

Stheno

gandalf wrote: »

That is absolutely crazy.

I'd ask them the question if they got a call regarding one of their current employees from a new prospective employer/competitor would that effect their perception of that employee and would it damage that employees career and internal reputation within the organisation? (any answer other than a yes is a lie btw!)

The only way I would agree to giving current employer details and them being contacted is if they are contacting the current employer after a job offer has been issued and provisionally accepted by you. I would not consider this under any other circumstances.

It was always after a provisional offer tbf

However it was a bit chicken and egg, the job offer was conditional on completion of the background check, in one instance it took 2 months!

KERSPLAT!

Asked the recruiter not to call my employer until a position had been offered, he just said fair enough and that normally everyone says the same

cocaholic

I have come across a lot of jobs recently that are looking for the references with the cv. One job i'm looking at applying for now as well as sending a cv and a cover letter, they have 2 application forms to be filled out and want to be sent examples of work. On 1 of the application forms they are looking for the details of 3 referees which must include my current or last employer. The way its laid out I can't ignore it but I don't like giving references out at this stage (just applying). My current boss has just retired and im in a government department on a temporary contact (making it difficult to get a reference).

What should I do??

Mr. Loverman

cocaholic wrote: »

What should I do??

cocaholic wrote: »

My current boss has just retired

Ask her nicely.

Stheno

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Ask her nicely.

Yup, ask her to be a personal referree and put that down in black and white on the form.

Mrs OBumble

cocaholic wrote: »

My current boss has just retired and im in a government department on a temporary contact (making it difficult to get a reference).

What should I do??

Over time, you can expect many of your referees to move on from where you worked for this. That in no way invalidates them as referees. IMHO they're still work referees, because they can say "X worked for me, s/he did Y"

Berserker

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Over time, you can expect many of your referees to move on from where you worked for this. That in no way invalidates them as referees. IMHO they're still work referees, because they can say "X worked for me, s/he did Y"

Yep, one of my referees falls into the category above. Never had any issue using him as a reference. As you said, you still worked for him/her.

leeroybrown

Unfortunately, sometimes you just have to use your current employer. I've worked for my current employer for almost 10 years and would probably only be able to source a contact for reference from one of my previous employers (in a different area of employment). I'd realistically have to use my current employer as a referee if I were applying for a job elsewhere.