Job offer contingent on background checks?? 3 July at 8:19PM edited 3 July at 8:20PM in Employment, Jobseeking & Training 39 replies 956 views

sharpe106

Not sure why you would not tell them if your job looking, it is obvious at some point somebody is going to ask for a reference.

Lurker1

LittleVoice said:

To add:  Companies have staff resigning quite often (unless they are tiny with exceptionally good rapport with their staff).  They will be used to receiving reference requests and having some uncertainty until a formal resignation letter arrives (or doesn't) and you'd have to live with the general potentially "unpleasant" situation for however long your notice period is in any case - you can't just decide to walk out without working during your notice period.

Yeah, this is my first time resigning, I have been in the company for less than a year, so I do feel a little bad resigning. Of course I am planning to work until my notice period. I did plan to discuss with my manager first, but reading online everyone says you either hand in your notice or keep your mouth shut.

Lurker1

sharpe106 said:

Not sure why you would not tell them if your job looking, it is obvious at some point somebody is going to ask for a reference.

People usually tell their current workplace they are looking for a job once they know 100% definite they have the job or if they were on very friendly terms with the manager.

LittleVoice

AW618 said:

Not true in what way?  Once it arrives, they will know.  So you ought to tell them before it arrives, or they will not be happy.  What gain do you think there is in not doing so?

No doubt there are a tiny number of companies who try and get references before interview; they will be vanishingly small as anyone with any sense will not give them permission to do so.  I have never encoutered it personally.

What I had emphasised was the statement that "you need to have handed in your resignation to your current employer before the reference request arrives on their desk".  That is you don't need to actually resign before the reference request is received.  Not only might the potential employer rescind an offer but you might decide you don't wish to accept it.

Employers within the NHS often seek references before interview.  As the NHS is the largest employer in the country that could be a lot of reference requests.

LittleVoice

Lurker1 said:

LittleVoice said:

To add:  Companies have staff resigning quite often (unless they are tiny with exceptionally good rapport with their staff).  They will be used to receiving reference requests and having some uncertainty until a formal resignation letter arrives (or doesn't) and you'd have to live with the general potentially "unpleasant" situation for however long your notice period is in any case - you can't just decide to walk out without working during your notice period.

Yeah, this is my first time resigning, I have been in the company for less than a year, so I do feel a little bad resigning. Of course I am planning to work until my notice period. I did plan to discuss with my manager first, but reading online everyone says you either hand in your notice or keep your mouth shut.

You can "keep your mouth shut" until you have to speak.  And the imminent arrival of a reference request is when you need to speak - being able to chose a moment for a quiet word is better than being faced by a boss walking up to your desk with the letter in their hand and asking "what's this all about?"

Lurker1

LittleVoice said:

Lurker1 said:

LittleVoice said:

To add:  Companies have staff resigning quite often (unless they are tiny with exceptionally good rapport with their staff).  They will be used to receiving reference requests and having some uncertainty until a formal resignation letter arrives (or doesn't) and you'd have to live with the general potentially "unpleasant" situation for however long your notice period is in any case - you can't just decide to walk out without working during your notice period.

Yeah, this is my first time resigning, I have been in the company for less than a year, so I do feel a little bad resigning. Of course I am planning to work until my notice period. I did plan to discuss with my manager first, but reading online everyone says you either hand in your notice or keep your mouth shut.

You can "keep your mouth shut" until you have to speak.  And the imminent arrival of a reference request is when you need to speak - being able to chose a moment for a quiet word is better than being faced by a boss walking up to your desk with the letter in their hand and asking "what's this all about?"

Thank you, I guess I was too caught up with reading about people's views online. I will definitely have a word with my employer and let her know about it.

AW618

LittleVoice said:

AW618 said:

Not true in what way?  Once it arrives, they will know.  So you ought to tell them before it arrives, or they will not be happy.  What gain do you think there is in not doing so?

No doubt there are a tiny number of companies who try and get references before interview; they will be vanishingly small as anyone with any sense will not give them permission to do so.  I have never encoutered it personally.

What I had emphasised was the statement that "you need to have handed in your resignation to your current employer before the reference request arrives on their desk".  That is you don't need to actually resign before the reference request is received.  Not only might the potential employer rescind an offer but you might decide you don't wish to accept it.

Employers within the NHS often seek references before interview.  As the NHS is the largest employer in the country that could be a lot of reference requests.

I am speaking of the private sector, I have no knowledge of the NHS, where people may behave differently as it is often a matter of people moving within the organisation.  So your advice may well be fine there.  However, in the private sector I can assure you that almost no employers will tolerate somebody asking for a reference and clearly planning to leave if the reference is successful without proffering a resignation.  In many places such behaviour would mean your days were numbered. 
References should not, and in my experience never are, requested before the offer has been accepted.
Could it be rescinded?  Yes, of course.  That is not your current employer's problem, and they are not going to thank you for trying to make it theirs.  In addition, you will need to serve out your notice if required, and you seem to be assuming the new employer will be willing to wait as long as is most convenient for you, which is not only an unsafe assumption, but far from the best way to start off at a new place.  Trying to arrange everything out of fear that the offer might be rescinded is a very unproductive way to proceed.

LittleVoice

AW618 said:

LittleVoice said:

AW618 said:

Not true in what way?  Once it arrives, they will know.  So you ought to tell them before it arrives, or they will not be happy.  What gain do you think there is in not doing so?

No doubt there are a tiny number of companies who try and get references before interview; they will be vanishingly small as anyone with any sense will not give them permission to do so.  I have never encoutered it personally.

What I had emphasised was the statement that "you need to have handed in your resignation to your current employer before the reference request arrives on their desk".  That is you don't need to actually resign before the reference request is received.  Not only might the potential employer rescind an offer but you might decide you don't wish to accept it.

Employers within the NHS often seek references before interview.  As the NHS is the largest employer in the country that could be a lot of reference requests.

I am speaking of the private sector, I have no knowledge of the NHS, where people may behave differently as it is often a matter of people moving within the organisation.  So your advice may well be fine there.  However, in the private sector I can assure you that almost no employers will tolerate somebody asking for a reference and clearly planning to leave if the reference is successful without proffering a resignation.  In many places such behaviour would mean your days were numbered. 
References should not, and in my experience never are, requested before the offer has been accepted.
Could it be rescinded?  Yes, of course.  That is not your current employer's problem, and they are not going to thank you for trying to make it theirs.  In addition, you will need to serve out your notice if required, and you seem to be assuming the new employer will be willing to wait as long as is most convenient for you, which is not only an unsafe assumption, but far from the best way to start off at a new place.  Trying to arrange everything out of fear that the offer might be rescinded is a very unproductive way to proceed.

I have worked in the NHS - which isn't one single employing body - including involvement in recruitment.

I have been employed by a couple of non-departmental public bodies.  I have been employed in the private sector (multi-nationals, third sector, large and small and medium size British enterprises.  In none of those did receipt of a reference request produce a demand for a resignation - it might even have sometimes led to negotiation of improved t&c.  Perhaps you have worked for more organisations than I have over a 50-year working life.

dori2o

A friend of mine was in a similar position as yourself with not wanting his current employer to know he was looking for a new job.
In the end he told his employer that he was looking for a part time job to suppliment his income.  Then when he had his confirmed offer of employment told his old employer he was leaving.
Yes it's underhand, yes it's not the right way to go about it, but you have to do what is right for you.
It might be an option.
Do not feel any loyalty to the employer you work for. They certainly feel no loyalty to you and wouldn't think twice of getting rid of you if they had to/wanted to.

sharpe106

Lurker1 said:

sharpe106 said:

Not sure why you would not tell them if your job looking, it is obvious at some point somebody is going to ask for a reference.

People usually tell their current workplace they are looking for a job once they know 100% definite they have the job or if they were on very friendly terms with the manager.

You never know you have a job until the references are done, you can leave it late but at some point you need to tell them and when they are requesting references I would think would be a good point. Most companies only ask for references when they are wanting to offer you the job. Or at least in the top few.