Question about References

UnexpectedlyExpected · November 2013

A friend asked me a question that I really didn't know how to answer. She has been at the same company and same department for about 10 years but is now looking for a new job. She asked me what she should do about professional references because that's the only job she's ever had. She can't put her managers since she doesn't want them knowing she's planning to leave yet. She works in a corporate office and does collaborate with other departments so I told her to consider asking someone she may trust. I thought I'd see what you brilliant ladies had to say. TIA

iverske9 · November 2013

I would put maybe a non work friend, and maybe a coworker I could trust.

shannm · November 2013

Estwd2 said:

I'm not sure if this applies to all companies or not, but my HR department only calls references for the final candidate, and it's not even really for a reference. It's just to verify employment. So maybe yours wouldn't actually find out until you were ready to accept another job and give notice?

This is what I was thinking too. Many companies know that you don't want your current employer to know that you are shopping around. Therefore, most do not ask for references until well after your initial interview, if at all. I don't think that I was officially asked for them until after I was offered the position (but I did offer them at my actual interview).

MelissaMiso · November 2013

I put coworkers that I trust and note on the bottom of my reference sheet "additional professional references available upon request" that way I can give current supervisors contact info when I am further into the process.

diamondduck13 · November 2013

I was in a similar situation once. I asked a woman I trusted in another department, who I had worked on a project with so she could speak to my abilities and work ethic. I also was lucky that someone from my department had left about a year prior so I could ask her to be a reference. Maybe your friend is lucky and one or both of those are options.

ETA typos

diamondduck13 · November 2013

Estwd2 said:
I'm not sure if this applies to all companies or not, but my HR department only calls references for the final candidate, and it's not even really for a reference. It's just to verify employment. So maybe yours wouldn't actually find out until you were ready to accept another job and give notice?

I'd be careful about relying on this. I know I've called references when still at the stage of deciding between two candidates. So it would be a gamble

Nechie122 · November 2013

I usually ask former colleagues/supervisors who have left the company. After 10 years, surely she knows people who are doing other things.

UnexpectedlyExpected · November 2013

I usually ask former colleagues/supervisors who have left the company. After 10 years, surely she knows people who are doing other things.

Thanks for the suggestion. Her supervisors have remained the same as well as the people in her department.

UnexpectedlyExpected · November 2013

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am hoping she's able to find someone she can trust to serve as her reference. I know her concern is that she won't have a supervisor as a reference though.

Sunidaze · November 2013

Estwd2 said:

I'm not sure if this applies to all companies or not, but my HR department only calls references for the final candidate, and it's not even really for a reference. It's just to verify employment. So maybe yours wouldn't actually find out until you were ready to accept another job and give notice?

This is what we do. I actually verify with the candidate their references and make sure I have the okay to call prior to making the reference calls (although ours is actually for a reference, not just employment verification).

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