In all these years, I’ve almost never switched jobs where the decision was purely self-determined and discretionary. In most of my jobs, the current employer understood and acknowledged that I was leaving due to lack of future opportunities and it was time for me to move on. This always made it easy for me to get references from the current employer as I applied for jobs.
Now, my question is… what if you currently have a good job, and an opportunity comes along that you deem better for yourself subjectively (no real difference in job level etc.). How does one go about securing references from the current employer without affronting your superiors or ruffling feathers?
Lucid , its always very risky to ask for references from the current employer while you are still on the job. So wait until you have definitely secured the next position ( as in, they have made a formal offer of employment to you , that is subject to references ) .... then inform your current employers of your changing priorities etc and a good reason for leaving ...
Once they are mentally ready to let you go , securing references from them becomes alot easier.
^ thanks Aimee...
I suppose it's a bit different in my line of work where names of references are required with the job application, and it's normal for them to be listed fully in the candidate's CV at the end. This is what causes the problem... you want to list people who are familiar with your current work but also don't want to tell them that you are applying for jobs elsewhere.
LC:wave:.. could you not ask ur inshallah new employer to contact ur referees until after they interview u?.. thats how some educational establishments work now.. they even have a question of " when wud u like us to contact ur referees"… they have ur entire CV and therefore e all the “hard evidence” at hand… and many establishments realise that calling up referees are 'sensitive" issues..
Hi poppies,
haven’t seen that question listed in job apps, but if the option was there I’d certainly use it. In any case, this was just a btw question since I’ve been wondering about it lately… in case, I was to apply for a job, and since I don’t really need to at the moment, I was wondering how the references thing would work.
LC I totally hear what youre saying but going back about 5 years in education, this question was asked on the application form of a middle management position I was interested in… Im aware that nowadays many establishments in the Education sector do ask this so inshallah im hoping this could offer you some solace in regards to your question.. good luck dear:k: