Pre interview references

middlewife

I am currently job hunting but all the jobs I am looking at although asking permission, say they would prefer to contact current employers for references "pre-interview". As there are current rounds of redundancies at work I do not want my current employer approached unless my prospective employer is going to offer me the job. I can give them one referee to approach pre-interview who I worked for 3 years ago, but really don't want my current employer approached (I should get a good reference!). The application form made it clear that they will not make any job offer until they've received a satisfactory reference. It's a large public sector organisation. 6 months ago, this was not the case, and I was told employment would be offered and I could commence on a probationary period "subject to satisfactory references being received"
Any ideas how i can get round this, both jobs I am looking at (different employers) insist on pre interview and/or pre offer references?

Errata

Give your previous employer as a reference and for the second one give a personal referee?

middlewife

Errata wrote: »

Give your previous employer as a reference and for the second one give a personal referee?

Not an option they insist on one reference from current employer

anamenottaken

middlewife wrote: »

I am currently job hunting but all the jobs I am looking at although asking permission, say they would prefer to contact current employers for references "pre-interview". As there are current rounds of redundancies at work I do not want my current employer approached unless my prospective employer is going to offer me the job. I can give them one referee to approach pre-interview who I worked for 3 years ago, but really don't want my current employer approached (I should get a good reference!). The application form made it clear that they will not make any job offer until they've received a satisfactory reference. It's a large public sector organisation. 6 months ago, this was not the case, and I was told employment would be offered and I could commence on a probationary period "subject to satisfactory references being received"
Any ideas how i can get round this, both jobs I am looking at (different employers) insist on pre interview and/or pre offer references?

That will rather restrict the questions they can ask the referee.

However the position you mention as being the situation 6 months ago is also not a good one as it sounds as though they would allow you to start work and then seek references. But perhaps they meant that they would make an offer subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and that also there would be a probationary period - which is much more common.

Savvy_Sue

I would give the name of one referee, and state that YOU prefer your current employer not to be approached prior to interview.

Or ask if they will hold it against you if you do that.