Reference when only had one job

Wiggles88

Hi All


I did a quick search for the above but couldnt find anything so apologies if this has been asked before.



So I have only had one job out of college, which I have been working in for the last 5 years. I want to start looking elsewhere but I'm not sure what to do for a reference. I dont have any previous employers to ask and I would prefer not to ask my current employer for obvious reasons.



Surely this is a common issue, what would be the norm in this situation?

seamus

"References available upon request".

You basically don't supply any references until you have a job offer in your hand and you've handed in your notice.

Companies don't require references before they move to offer, no matter how much they claim they do. The offer can be conditional on receipt of satisfactory references, and this has been the norm with every role I've had for the last 15 years.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: If a company insists on a reference before making an offer, walk away. Not worth jeopardising your current job for a potential one.

Wiggles88

Thanks for that. Any jobs I have been looking into so far have for the most part looked for references up front, but that may be due to going through recruitment agents as apposed to the companies themselves?

Assuming it got to the point where an offer was made subject to receipt of references would there be an issue asking a member of my current company? Could the company refuse etc?

OMM 0000

You just explain it exactly as you've explained it here. What you've said is completely reasonable.

You could try to get a personal reference - from a old college professor, your local priest, etc.

seamus

Wiggles88 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Any jobs I have been looking into so far have for the most part looked for references up front, but that may be due to going through recruitment agents as apposed to the companies themselves?

Recruitment agents do like to gather it all up front, but you can just explain that you have no other references except your current employer. If they don't accept that, they can go away.

Assuming it got to the point where an offer was made subject to receipt of references would there be an issue asking a member of my current company? Could the company refuse etc?

The company could refuse, but I've never heard of one doing so unless the employee left on really really bad terms.

Bigger companies often have a policy where normal employees are not permitted to give references, and they must all be provided by HR. This is an arse-covering exercise, but HR will usually ask the person's manager for feedback before giving the reference. Also, most managers will give a reference in spite of this policy, if you get on well with them.

professorA

I was in a similar situation two years ago when applying for a new job position.

I only worked for one company after college, therefore I put down my current employer and my college course coordinator - and it worked!

However, I couldn't tell my current employer that I had applied for a new job, so I chanced my arm and put his name down on the application form without saying anything. However he found out I got the job before I told him.....

Turtwig

^^^ that's an entirely different thing. Putting someone down as a reference without getting their consent is not wise. In general never name drop someone in relation to anything without their prior approval of you doing so.

Bicycle

Consider doing some voluntary work.

It will broaden your skills base and look good on your CV. It will also give you another referee - someone who CAN be approached prior to a job offer.

CPTM

I have never given a person as a reference. All recruiters I've dealt with have been happy with a signed off reference letter from my current or past employer's HR department which stated my role, and dates I've worked at the company.

When requesting it from the HR department, I told them it was just for a mortgage application. I think one Recruiter wanted to do it themselves, and they said that when contacting the HR person, they wouldn't tell them it's for a job.

Have you been told a manager's name is required? How about giving an old colleague's name as a reference instead? It would be pretty crappy for a recruiter to demand a reference directly from your current manager before an official job offer was made. I would imagine, if your recruiters are like mine, it's a tick the box exercise and a "reference letter" from HR will do. HR should have a standard template.

professorA

Turtwig wrote: »

^^^ that's an entirely different thing. Putting someone down as a reference without getting their consent is not wise. In general never name drop someone in relation to anything without their prior approval of you doing so.

How is this an entirely different thing? Its the exact same! Depending on the situation, one has no choice but to put a reference down without permission if they only had one job ever - they don't want to put their current job at risk!

seamus

professorA wrote: »

How is this an entirely different thing? Its the exact same! Depending on the situation, one has no choice but to put a reference down without permission if they only had one job ever - they don't want to put their current job at risk!

Don't put a reference down until you've handed in your notice.

Nobody needs the name of a reference until you have a job offer in your hand. That's a fact, and make that a personal rule and you can't go wrong.