Telling employer about new job before handing notice in

Isaac_:)

Hi all,

I've recently been offered a new job pending successful completion of security checks. As part of said checks, they have asked for the contact details of my current employer, presumably with the intention of contacting them for a reference or suchlike.

I've been informed that these checks can take a while, and advised not to hand any notice in until I've been given a formal offer of employment (which I won't receive until after successful completion of the checks). If my new employer are going to contact my current one, then it'll obviously be good manners for me to let my current employer know in advance.

Therefore my question is whether it's a good idea to tell my current employer that I've been given a provisional offer of employment, but not hand in my month's notice until later. While I'm not worried about dismissal or anything, as seeking new employment doesn't amount to any sort of misconduct, would this be looked upon favourably? I want to leave my current job on the best possible terms, and while I don't want to mess them around by telling them I plan to leave but not just yet, it's still important to give them prior warning if they're going to be contacted by my new employer.

Many thanks for your help.

Alter_ego

Ask the new employer not to contact present employer unless they intend to make a firm offer.

Undervalued

You don't say how long you have worked for your current employer but remember, if it is less than two years, they could dismiss you without any reason at all.

There was an example on here of exactly that happening in the last few weeks under very similar circumstances.

Otherwise I agree you do really need to tell them prior to them receiving any reference request but I would delay right up to that point if you possibly can.

Isaac_:)

Undervalued wrote: »

You don't say how long you have worked for your current employer but remember, if it is less than two years, they could dismiss you without any reason at all.

There was an example on here of exactly that happening in the last few weeks under very similar circumstances.

Otherwise I agree your do really need to tell them prior to them receiving any reference request but I would delay right up to that point if you possible can.

I've only been in my current job for nine months, so yes, in that case that possibility would apply to me.

I've got the security checks form completed and ready to submit online - I'm only holding off submitting it until I decide what the best course of action is, but I suppose that as soon as I've sent the form off, I'll need to tell my current boss straight away.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Isaac_:) wrote: »

Hi all,


I've been informed that these checks can take a while, and advised not to hand any notice in until I've been given a formal offer of employment (which I won't receive until after successful completion of the checks). If my new employer are going to contact my current one, then it'll obviously be good manners for me to let my current employer know in advance.

This advice is likely to be better informed than anything you receive from random people on the internet. If they are saying that to you it's because they know things can and often do go awry at this stage. Listen to them. You have nothing to lose by doing so. Also, if they have said that to you, they will presumably not be contacting your current employer - a reference has nothing to do with security checks.

Isaac_:)

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

This advice is likely to be better informed than anything you receive from random people on the internet. If they are saying that to you it's because they know things can and often do go awry at this stage. Listen to them. You have nothing to lose by doing so. Also, if they have said that to you, they will presumably not be contacting your current employer - a reference has nothing to do with security checks.

Absolutely - I'm not going to hand my notice in until I've received a formal job offer, but I want to avoid the situation where I need to tell my employer they may be contacted for the purposes of the checks (effectively telling them I'll be leaving without giving formal notice), but then leaving them hanging for ages if the checks take a while.

bugslet

It depends what kind of security checks. Friend of mine started for the police a few months back as a civilian contractor and her then current place of employment were asked for a reference in order to complete the security check.

It depends OP, on how you get on with the firm and their culture. If you worked for me, I'd appreciate the heads up that you were leaving. Firstly I'd see why you wanted to leave, it might be something fixable or not and it wouldn't impact on how we treat you.

TBagpuss

I think that it depends on what your current employer is like. If they are reasonable, then you should be able to let them know and give them a heads-up that you will be giving in your notice but not yet, and things would be fine. Certainly, in my company, it would not be an issue - we'd appreciate the warning and while it might lead to a conversation about why you were planning to leave and possibly, whether there was anything which would make you want to stay, it certainly wouldn't have any negative effects for you, but their are employers who would see it as 'disloyal' and might react badly, unfortunately!

If you are concerned that they won't be reasonable then it would be worth contacting the new employer, explaining your concern and asking whether there are any alternatives - for instance, can they do all of the other checks first, and only contact your employer at the end? Does the enquiry make it clear that they are making checks related to a job application or not?

sangie595

If this is for security checks, is a chicken and egg situation. They will need your employer details and may contact them. If you don't provide them you don't pass the security check. So you need to tell the employer in that case.

theoretica

A number of my colleagues have let it be known they have job interviews or will be leaving to go to university in 6 months or similar. None have been dismissed for this. I hope your employer is equally decent.

xapprenticex

When i was in that situation i told my line manager but not the BOSS, my line manager did the reference and i told the BOSS when everything was set in stone. of course, the boss wasnt told that the line manager knew.

Helps if you are friends with the line manager though.