Say you apply for a new job but dont want your current employers to find out....

[FrightOwl]

at what point do people normally check up on references?

ive never applied for a job before when ive already got one but ive had it with work, am so miserable with the situation there.

ive seen a job advertised with the same hours (rare), just down the road from where i already work (so travel no problem). i really want to apply, but dont want work to know.

ask that they DON't contact your referees until you have been formally offered the job (in writing) and you have formally accepted

it is pretty standard IME
each job I have gone for, i have always been employed so have asked that
sometimes there is even something on the form which asks when and if they can contact your referees

Yup. What Ruby says. If there's a proper form you might be a tick box with that very question. If not, put it in the covering letter?

Sounds perfect. Would be a shame to miss the chance. Good luck.

Most companies are happy to get references after you have handed your notice in. Do you have another previous employer who could provide an initial reference if the offer is subject to references?

Do you have any reason to believe you might not get a glowing reference?

But Ruby likes writing grant bids so she's weird.

i have no reason to beleive i wouldn't get a good reference but i dont want to be given a hard time if they think im dropping them in it (already understaffed) iyswim. not that im irreplaceable by any means but its not the sort of thing you can pick up in a couple of weeks.

yes - very true Peachy

you will have a notice period (i assume) so you won't be leaving them in the lurch

i just typed a new cv and it is crapola (i cant find my old one)

makes me look like a jack of all trades and master of none...i need some inspiration because the way im feeling right now, im finding it impossible to big myself up!

They are not allowed to give you a bad reference. They can refuse to give a reference - it was my company policy not to give references. They could also just say the minimum which includes confirming you worked there, your job title and the period you were employed for.
With regard to writing CVs I would steer clear of the templates on Word. There are some do's and don'ts when it comes to putting together a CV which I assume you probably already know.

Can I just add to empen's point about bad references?

In fact a reference must be factual and evidence-based. So if someone has, for example, been through a disciplinary and was found guilty of something or other, they could put that, as it is factual and there is evidence to prove it and also evidence that the person is obviously aware of the problem. Similarly, a poor absence record could be mentioned as it is (should be) documented, and also other performance problems if they have been raised previously and the person is aware.

However it's a grey area and most employers do prefer to play it safe and give very basic information either as a universal policy as empen's employer does, or do that in cases where they don't feel able to give a 'good' reference.

fright owl - make your cv specific to the job. look at the job description, identify what skills they need then highlight the most relevant aspects of your previous jobs - with some good wording it's not difficult to make a varied job history look cohesive - planned even. you can elaborate more in your covering letter. think about themes, skills, your strong points - don;t focus too much on chronology, not detailing everything you did in each job, or even what were then the key bits - if the key bits are irrelevant highlight other bits. just think all the time "why is this relevant to this job?"