Application Forms / References

jaymo2010

Hi,

I have to provide contact details for 3 referees on a job application form that I'm currently filling in. I am reluctant to provide any referees based at my current place of work just incase it gets back to my my manager that I'm looking to escape but have put the name of a colleague who I think I can trust. As I work on a small team (there's currently just me, my colleague and my manager), I was going to use referees from where I used to work but I am aware that there have been a number of changes to my old team as well as they have all either left the company, got promoted or taken a sideways move to another department since I left.

With this in mind, on the application form where I am asked for the person's 'position in organisation', am I expected to put the person's current role even if they have changed department. For example, my former supervisor is now working in Customer Services rather than IT, and although I have stated that our relationship is that he is my former team leader - I just worry if his job title won't tally up with the experience that I have said that I have had.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but any feedback you are able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Emmzi

i'd put your boss down with "not to be contacted prior to offer being made" or if paranoid his name jib title and the above but no email/ phone number etc,

Gingernutty

I work in one NHS trust. I applied for another NHS job and to my horror one of the Section Leaders came up to me and told me that she had written the reference but was giving it to the TL for a "once over" before sending it. She,NOT my TL was listed as one of my referees (for good reasons).

Needless to say, I was never invited to an interview but can't prove if it was the poor reference I possibly got from the TL that did it for me.

It doesn't matter how you word the stipulation about contacting referees, if the company's policy is to look for references before even inviting you to interview then you are stymied.

jaymo2010

There's a bit of blurb at the top of the referees section saying that they may on occassion take references for candidates that have been shortlisted prior to interview, so I want to avoid naming my manager.

I know that I sound paranoid but the working relationship that I have with my manager has been delicate for a few months now, and the last thing that I want to do is rock the boat, particularly if I am not successful.

SarEl

Gingernutty wrote: »

I work in one NHS trust. I applied for another NHS job and to my horror one of the Section Leaders came up to me and told me that she had written the reference but was giving it to the TL for a "once over" before sending it. She,NOT my TL was listed as one of my referees (for good reasons).

Needless to say, I was never invited to an interview but can't prove if it was the poor reference I possibly got from the TL that did it for me.

It doesn't matter how you word the stipulation about contacting referees, if the company's policy is to look for references before even inviting you to interview then you are stymied.

Unless it is a personal reference, not an employers reference, then it doesn't matter who you put down - the organisation will decide who has the authority to write references and equally, if someone writes a reference they can certainly check it out with a manager, HR or anyone else they wish to consult within the employing body. They are not acting in their individual capacity - they are acting for the employer.

SarEl

jaymo2010 wrote: »

There's a bit of blurb at the top of the referees section saying that they may on occassion take references for candidates that have been shortlisted prior to interview, so I want to avoid naming my manager.

I know that I sound paranoid but the working relationship that I have with my manager has been delicate for a few months now, and the last thing that I want to do is rock the boat, particularly if I am not successful.

If they are asking for an employers reference - does your colleague have the authority to write references on behalf of the employer? Because if not you could both be getting in to trouble for this.

jaymo2010

SarEl wrote: »

If they are asking for an employers reference - does your colleague have the authority to write references on behalf of the employer? Because if not you could both be getting in to trouble for this.

Actually that's something that I hadn't considered.... I'd guess that officially my colleague wouldn't have the authority however in all of the companies that I have worked for, the organisation's deal with references centrally so is it not a case of putting down a name and my colleague raising this with the relevant department should a request come in?

The form asks for:
First Name, Last Name, Address, Tel No, Email, Position in the Organisation and Professional Relationship to Applicant so its not as though I can just list the company and leave it at that.

Additionally, this is what the reference section of the application form states:

Blurb_from_Application_Form wrote: »

One of your referees should have knowledge of your current or most recent work if applicable. We normally only take up references for the successful candidate and, if you are shortlisted, we will ask you to bring contact details to your interview. However on occaion, we take up references for shortlisted candidates prior to interview. Please provide details below of referees whom we may approach prior to interview, if necessary.

To be honest this is why I prefer the CV route for job applications, quoting that 'References available on Request' at least keeps things simple doesn't it?

SarEl

The easiest thing to do is to simply tell them that they should not contact your current employer until after interview. I cannot see any company being surprised or disturbed by such a request. Many people don't want their employers to know they are looking elsewhere.

CruisingSaver

Gingernutty wrote: »

I work in one NHS trust. I applied for another NHS job and to my horror one of the Section Leaders came up to me and told me that she had written the reference but was giving it to the TL for a "once over" before sending it. She,NOT my TL was listed as one of my referees (for good reasons).

Needless to say, I was never invited to an interview but can't prove if it was the poor reference I possibly got from the TL that did it for me.

It doesn't matter how you word the stipulation about contacting referees, if the company's policy is to look for references before even inviting you to interview then you are stymied.

Not necessarily true for the NHS. If you apply for posts through NHS Jobs then you can stipulate if referees can be contacted prior to interview.

I've been through the process as a recruiting manager a fair few times and I've never had references provided to me in order to shortlist candidates for interview.

jaymo2010

I think I'll list my manager and just take the chance. The blurb on the application form says that they're unlikely to contact referees of people who aren't successful so I'll just have to have a bit of faith, I guess. I don't really know how I can put that I don't want them contacting people on an application form.


On the point about my other referees, would you use their current job titles or what they were when I used to work at my former company with them?

CruisingSaver

I would use their current job titles Jaymo. Good luck!