References before interview?

gracie83

I am half way though an application form and I have come to a section which feels wrong! I have to give two professional references, 1st my current line manager and 2nd my previous employer. I then have to sign the reference section of the form giving permission for the references to be obtained before the interview. There is no option to have references done after the interview.

I have not seen this before on an application form! It seems weird that they will hear from my manager and ex manager before I even get to interview. My manager would know I had an interview before I would! I have not spoken to my manager at all about my job hunting and would really prefer to pass an interview before breaking the news to them!

Also my previous employer was 4 years ago. I have no idea if my old line manager still works there so I can only give a job title not a name. The entire business has relocated in the mean time! They all knew me by my maiden name but the only place on the application form where you are asked to mention previous names is in the criminal record section!

Any suggestions about the best way to provide these references?

Bubbabinks

Put it on a separate piece of paper giving them permission to contact previous line manager but asking that they contact current line manager if you are successful after the interview stage - I'm sure they will understand.

Morris_Robin

References is more important and when you are asking for your old manager first take permission and take next step.

Thanks,
Morris

BexInLondon

Could you give them a call and ask what they'd like you to put. Don't waffle on for ages, just say that you'd like them not to contact your current workplace unless a job offer is being made, as it could affect your position there. It's very understandable, and very normal, not to want current boss to know of job hunting It might be that the form was written by someone who isn't very experienced!

bap98189

Bubbabinks wrote: »

Put it on a separate piece of paper giving them permission to contact previous line manager but asking that they contact current line manager if you are successful after the interview stage - I'm sure they will understand.

I would not do this. The last thing you want is them ringing them anyway. Ring them up and make sre they fully understand that you do not want your current manager to be contacted prior to the interview.

bijouinnuendo

Hiya

Do I assume correctly that you are applying for a public sector job as this seems a normal request from them. I have recently seen some recruitment agencies asking for references before hand but usually ignore these requests. DH has recently started a new job and each time he was asked for references before interview or even afterwards if no job offer had been made he left the forms blank or wrote a paragraph explaining refs would be provided if a position was offered.

Bijou

Fluffi

I definitely wouldn't give my current employer details right now - I'd probably just write something along the lines of "Reference details will be provided if successful or following job offer".

I can't believe anyone who seriously think its reasonable to give your current employer as a reference before even getting the job! Finding a new job can take weeks or it can take months - the last thing I'd want is my workplace knowing I was thinking of leaving until I had a written contract of employment (or a winning Lottery ticket ) in my hands.

DCFC79

Fluffi wrote: »

I definitely wouldn't give my current employer details right now - I'd probably just write something along the lines of "Reference details will be provided if successful or following job offer".

I can't believe anyone who seriously think its reasonable to give your current employer as a reference before even getting the job! Finding a new job can take weeks or it can take months - the last thing I'd want is my workplace knowing I was thinking of leaving until I had a written contract of employment (or a winning Lottery ticket ) in my hands.

theres nothing wrong with putting current employer down as a reference but you tick the box asking them not to conatct the referee without contacting yourself first

Now a days references are just refered to personnel rather than a specific person

Fluffi

DCFC79 wrote: »

theres nothing wrong with putting current employer down as a reference but you tick the box asking them not to conatct the referee without contacting yourself first

Now a days references are just refered to personnel rather than a specific person

Unless they make a mistake and contact your current employer despite the tick box.. its very easy to miss a tick box.

And if you work for a small/medium company like me then the FIRST thing personnel would do upon receiving a reference request would be to email/meet with my line managers to let them know that a reference has been requested and that I'm looking for a new job. Its just way too risky ... yes that does sound a bit paranoid ... but everything tends to get round my office pretty quickly in my experience. And I wouldn't trust any potential new employer not to send something to "personnel" and completely ruin my relationship with my current employer.

Personally in this particular situation I'd probably abort the application unless I was prepared for my employer to find out even if I was unsuccessful or it was an opportunity to double my current salary because I'd be so stressed out by the possibility of the new potential employer making a mistake.

Note: I'm not saying the OP shouldn't proceed though only they know how their bosses will react, whether personnel would inform their boss if a reference request was received etc etc.

CCFC_80

I think that it is completely out of order for the interviewer to ask for references from your current employer before the interview has taken place. As someone has already stated it could easily affect your current position if you are going to be unsuccessful.