Help reference from current employer?

ironlady2022

Hi I've got a job offer but it's asking for references spanning back 5 years of my career/education. I'm not sure how to ask it from my current employer as I've only been there since 17th April this year. He's a hard man to please as well.

What do I do now? Hand in my resignation Tues? Or ask for reference and warn them of my resignation?

Racheldevon

Won't the company write to your employer to take up the references? Once you've got a conditional offer letter, hand your notice in, and inform your employer that they will be contacting him to obtain a reference

anamenottaken

Racheldevon wrote: »

Won't the company write to your employer to take up the references? Once you've got a conditional offer letter, hand your notice in, and inform your employer that they will be contacting him to obtain a reference

This is not generally considered to be sound advice.
By "conditional" is normally meant that the offer is subject to receipt of satisfactory references by the employer (and possibly CRB and health checks depending on the job). If one hands in ones notice on the basis of having a conditional offer, one risks the new employer not liking a reference they receive and withdrawing the offer. The employee is then without a job.

ironlady2022

The letter that I have is an offer upon receiving satisfactory references and passing drugs and alcohol test etc. I have to reply within 7 days to accept and they will contact my references once they get this. Obviously I want to warn my referees as they will be contacted.

So my query is, do I 'warn' my Manager that he will be contacted and that if they are ok, my resignation will follow or hand in my resignation and ask for reference?

It's such a dumb system because if it all goes wrong, my current Employer won't be impressed. Do I have to run the risk of not having a job by handing in my resignation first?

elsien

Warn your manager then hand your notice in once only when all the references and checks have gone through and been deemed satisfactory by the new employer. Don't resign until the new job is a definite done deal.

ironlady2022

Elsien: that's all well and good but I'll be like a ticking time bomb for them. If reference is not good. Would they still want me there?

elsien

Yes it might be awkward, but it's going to be a lot more difficult for you if you resign, don't pass the recruitment checks for the new job and end up with nothing at all.
Do you have any reason to suspect there might be a problem with the reference? At least if you talk to your boss you can try to put a slightly more positive spin on things - you like your workplace, you're sorry to put them in a difficult position but the new job is offering x y z which is what has prompted you to leave an otherwise good job etc etc.

ironlady2022

My only worry is I only have experience of the current field since April and tbh mistakes have been made due to lack of experience but I've always tried to resolve all problems. I feel he may dwell on the bad rather than good. And his reference may be key as it will be the only one relevant to my current job. Obviosy on the flip side, new company may put less weighting on as it's such a short period of employment.