Reference from current boss, only in company a few months

Tramps Like Us

Long story short I've been working at a job for the past three months, two if which were various training programs, having moved to a new town to do so, work is not great, pay is poor. Last week I was contacted by another company I previously interviewed for in another part of the country and asked to interview for another position. I figured I had nothing to lose so I went for the interview, it went really well and they subsequently asked for references so I reckon I'm close. Pay is 10k a year more.

Only thing is they are adamant about a reference from my current company. This is awkward as I have been here such a short time. I don't want to sour my relationship as I reckon after a few years I have a great chance of getting promoted. Plus I haven't been offered the other job, I may not get it but destroy my prospects at my current job.

Anyone have any advice?

They are both very large companies with thousands of employees.

Berserker

Wait until you are offered the new job and inform your new employer that you cannot ask you current employer for a reference until you have an offer that you can accept. They cannot expect you to ask your current company for a reference without offering you a position. It would be career suicide in your current company.

On receiving the offer, approach your current boss and explain that an opportunity has come your way that you cannot turn down given your circumstances. Have a list of pluses for the new job prepared to (eg: it's in a field that I studied in, the location is better for me for reason 'X', it will give me a better standard of living).

On a wider note, is this business of asking/checking references before offering a position a new craze or is it specific to certain industries? I have never heard of it and asking me to do so would lead to an instant refusal on my part.

Tramps Like Us

Berserker wrote: »

Wait until you are offered the new job and inform your new employer that you cannot ask you current employer for a reference until you have an offer that you can accept. They cannot expect you to ask your current company for a reference without offering you a position. It would be career suicide in your current company.

On receiving the offer, approach your current boss and explain that an opportunity has come your way that you cannot turn down given your circumstances. Have a list of pluses for the new job prepared to (eg: it's in a field that I studied in, the location is better for me for reason 'X', it will give me a better standard of living).

On a wider note, is this business of asking/checking references before offering a position a new craze or is it specific to certain industries? I have never heard of it and asking me to do so would lead to an instant refusal on my part.

That sounds like a good plan, I'll ring them today and tell them that. I'm a bit worried though that the boss will be pissed and give me a bad reference because of it... But it is a better job with more pay, which I think I will enjoy so I can't really pass it up.

Berserker

Tramps Like Us wrote: »

That sounds like a good plan, I'll ring them today and tell them that. I'm a bit worried though that the boss will be pissed and give me a bad reference because of it... But it is a better job with more pay, which I think I will enjoy so I can't really pass it up.

Any reasonable boss/person will understand your situation. Best of luck.

Eoin

Is there anyone you've worked with at your manager's level who'd be able to give you a reference? That's what I did when I left my last company.

cloudatlas

Berserker wrote: »

On a wider note, is this business of asking/checking references before offering a position a new craze or is it specific to certain industries? I have never heard of it and asking me to do so would lead to an instant refusal on my part.

Some companies demand references before they even ask you for interview which can be very awkward.

Mr. Loverman

Tramps Like Us wrote: »

Only thing is they are adamant about a reference from my current company.

This is a massive red flag.

It means either the HR person or your boss is an idiot.

...

Tramps Like Us

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

This is a massive red flag.

It means either the HR person or your boss is an idiot.

...

Turns out the HR person I was dealing with was an idiot. Got through to someone else and was told that a mistake was made and reference from current company won't be needed until after I get offered the job. Lol. This is good news hopefully I'll get offered the job and when I ask my current line manager for a reference they will be sound about it and give me a decent one or at least not a bad one

Berserker

Tramps Like Us wrote: »

Turns out the HR person I was dealing with was an idiot. Got through to someone else and was told that a mistake was made and reference from current company won't be needed until after I get offered the job. Lol. This is good news hopefully I'll get offered the job and when I ask my current line manager for a reference they will be sound about it and give me a decent one or at least not a bad one

Good to hear it's sorted and I hope you get the job.