Question for the pedants out there.

[Cuck00soup]

I'm currently applying for jobs and this has thrown me a bit. (caveat I'm recovering from covid so my poor addled brain is definitely not firing on all neurons).

Anyway, I am looking at the referee section. The question asks.
Your relationship with the referee

The answer I need to write is clearly "line manager" so I'm probably being a bit daft here. It's just that it struck me that that makes it sound like I am their line manager, not that they manage me.

So, out of interest, am I right, or is the way they have phrased it correct?

Obviously not a big deal, as I say it's clear what it's meant to be, I'm just musing really.

You should put "subordinate" , or "referee was my line manager"

It should really be ‘Your relationship to the referee’.

But even that is unsatisfactory. What they surely want is the name of the role or position of your referee. From that your relative seniority should be obvious.

But they’re going to assume your referee is senior to you, anyway. Surely?

I'd just say "Jane Smith is my line manager."

Of course if one was being completely pedantic the question should really have been 'relationship TO the referee' (unless you and the referee were actually in a sexual relationship, in which case - fair enough) so grammatically they are in no position to be throwing stones , but I agree with @anniegun "referee was my line manager" is totally clear. Good luck with the application, hope you get it!

Essentially the question you want to answer is ‘Referee’s relationship to you’. Yes?

Thanks for the responses. It's a turgid online form, unfortunately.

Name of Referree
John Smith

Your relationship to referee
I might just put "John is my line manager" at least that's true.

I'm glad it's not just me who doesn't think it scans right, though.

Your relationship to referee

I have been line managed by them for xx years.