switching jobs

Satur9

i recently began work, about 3 weeks ago and it's going really well, tho it's only min wage. i still want to apply for jobs that are closer to my chosen field, and am now trying to fill in application forms, so i have some questions, mostly about references. i'm concerned about:

1. what might my boss think/do if i ask him for references or give any other indication that i'm looking for work elsewhere?

2. what might happen if i tick the 'can we contact this person?' box on an application form?

specifically what i would like to happen is get great references from my current employer, impress my new boss and move smoothly from an ok job to a great job, and if i don't get the great job, still have things go well with the ok job

what i don't want to happen is get turned down for the great job, only to have burnt my bridges in the ok job

in short, how do i negotiate this classic conflict of interests?

S9

DCFC79

Satur9 wrote: »

i recently began work, about 3 weeks ago and it's going really well, tho it's only min wage. i still want to apply for jobs that are closer to my chosen field, and am now trying to fill in application forms, so i have some questions, mostly about references. i'm concerned about:

1. what might my boss think/do if i ask him for references or give any other indication that i'm looking for work elsewhere?

2. what might happen if i tick the 'can we contact this person?' box on an application form?

specifically what i would like to happen is get great references from my current employer, impress my new boss and move smoothly from an ok job to a great job, and if i don't get the great job, still have things go well with the ok job

what i don't want to happen is get turned down for the great job, only to have burnt my bridges in the ok job

in short, how do i negotiate this classic conflict of interests?

S9

1 i explained to my manager that i was looking for other work and could i use him as a reference adn he said this was fine and gave me his home and email address to use due to his post being checked

2 if you tick that box they just contact the person you have given as a ref and usually they do so without contacting you and theres a box that says no

Satur9

Hi, thanks for the quick reply,

i've been thinking about it all evening and i guess it's a case of if he wanted to switch jobs, he'd have to ask his boss for refs, and so on up the tree. plus my boss is pretty cool. i might have to put up with some friendly P*** taking but no real malice.

thanks again

S9

Errata

Most job offers are 'subject to references'. Employers won't ask a current or most recent employer for a reference for all the people who apply for a vacancy, only for the applicant they wish to appoint.

williacg

Satur9 wrote: »

i recently began work, about 3 weeks ago and it's going really well, tho it's only min wage. i still want to apply for jobs that are closer to my chosen field, and am now trying to fill in application forms, so i have some questions, mostly about references. i'm concerned about:

1. what might my boss think/do if i ask him for references or give any other indication that i'm looking for work elsewhere?

2. what might happen if i tick the 'can we contact this person?' box on an application form?

specifically what i would like to happen is get great references from my current employer, impress my new boss and move smoothly from an ok job to a great job, and if i don't get the great job, still have things go well with the ok job

what i don't want to happen is get turned down for the great job, only to have burnt my bridges in the ok job

in short, how do i negotiate this classic conflict of interests?

S9

I guess it depends on what your current boss is like, you said that yours is rather cool, mine is awful, and would definitly take offence, and would take the stance that if I'm not staying, I'm not worth further training or development, I therefore tend to keep it to myself when applying for jobs, as I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me. As for the matter of the reference, I usually put a small note next to it, stating that refererees are only to be contacted in the event that my application is successful.

Good luck job hunting.

Savvy_Sue

Unless you've seen how the boss responds to other fairly new starters looking for other work, I'd hold fire on telling him you are job seeking already.

Because what COULD happen is that he says "Well, if you're looking elsewhere already, why don't you get your coat?"

Do your best to be a great employee, look around at other jobs, start applying, maybe talk about your long term plans but don't say "Oh, will you give me a good reference please" until you know you need one!

And do not tick the box to say that your boss can be contacted immediately. Wait until you've got an offer.