Job offer but I can't provide enough professional references

highwayrun · 2021-07-27T20:28:52+00:00

I have a job offer subject to references. They want three professional references from two previous jobs. I can only provide references from my current job due to a career break and studying at university. Do you think they will be able to be flexible around this? I felt so happy at getting the job but now feel anxious that the offer is going to be taken away.

titchy · 27/07/2021 21:29

You should be able to get one form your uni personal tutor which would count as a professional referee.

Blankspace4 · 27/07/2021 21:30

Are there two people at your current role who would provide a reference? What about a university tutor?

I wouldn’t worry about it. It wouldn’t bother me as a hiring manager if you’d satisfied everything else and passed all of the other checks

CorporeSarnie · 27/07/2021 21:34

Ask your university tutor, they will be used to doing references all the time for current and former students. If part of your recent history is a spell at uni then this is appropriate.

Shelddd · 27/07/2021 21:36

Current job (or most recent if you're not employed) is the most important reference. I wouldn't worry about it. I would submit as you have it. They won't just say "sorry you didn't pass referencing, have a nice day"... It'll be more like "your references are insufficient can you please provide an additional reference".. so you'll get opportunity to provide another one.

I would submit it as you have it and let them come back to you if they really care about it.

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/07/2021 21:39

Definitely your university tutor or course leader, they do these all the time. Your dissertation supervisor? Have you volunteered anywhere in the last 2 or 3 years?

mynameiscalypso · 27/07/2021 21:41

I had something similar last week - they wanted two references but I only have ever had one employer (and it's been over 15 years since I was at uni!). I emailed the hiring manager and she suggested a couple of different options; she gave the impression that it happened all the time and wasn't a big deal.

Original poster

highwayrun · 27/07/2021 21:47

Oh thank you, you've all made me feel a lot better. I was feeling quite worried. I have emailed the hiring manager to ask if there are any other possible options.

It's kind of an awkward situation asking my current role for references. My manager has just left and I have a brand new manager who doesn't know me at all really. I will have to ask him though and HR and then I can ask my university dissertation supervisor too which will give me three references.

OP posts:

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/07/2021 21:52

Are you still in contact with your previous manager? If so they can provide a reference.

Shelddd · 27/07/2021 21:54

@highwayrun

Oh thank you, you've all made me feel a lot better. I was feeling quite worried. I have emailed the hiring manager to ask if there are any other possible options.

It's kind of an awkward situation asking my current role for references. My manager has just left and I have a brand new manager who doesn't know me at all really. I will have to ask him though and HR and then I can ask my university dissertation supervisor too which will give me three references.

I had same situation one time and got a reference from a new manager who had only worked with me for a week... It was fine. He was very nice though (as most people are when coming into a new role) and I'm sure his reference was very good.

In general referencing after offer is just a tickbox exercise. You already have an offer.

5togo · 27/07/2021 22:02

When I tried to get back into teaching through an agency, I didn’t have enough recent references (within five years) and they told me I could work for free for a few weeks and they would monitor my performance!

5togo · 27/07/2021 22:03

They wanted people with a professional email address not a personal one so I couldn’t use people I had worked with but had since retired.

SushiGo · 27/07/2021 22:06

Have you done any professional volunteering? I've used references from this kind of thing.

Applesarenice · 27/07/2021 22:19

You can put a colleague as a reference it doesn’t have to be anyone senior to you

Shelddd · 28/07/2021 00:38

@5togo

When I tried to get back into teaching through an agency, I didn’t have enough recent references (within five years) and they told me I could work for free for a few weeks and they would monitor my performance!

That is insane!

Original poster

highwayrun · 28/07/2021 20:58

The hiring manager has still not replied to my email (it's been over 24hrs). I'm feeling a little on-edge as I really want to get this sorted ASAP.

Tomorrow I'm going to ask my new manager anyway as I know whatever happens I will need a reference from him. I feel awkward as I don't really know him and I'm worried he will say no... He is very senior to me (he's actually my old manager's manager). Do you think I should just say "can I have a quick word please? I have applied to some jobs and may need to provide a reference, could I possibly list you as one please?" I don't want to email when I will be seeing him in person and I think it's better to ask in person.

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NiceGerbil · 28/07/2021 21:03

Are you leaving anyway if anything happens with this offer? Not saying it will but I would not disclose to current job if might not end up leaving.

I'd chase the recruitment manager and say do excited to start etc etc. Career break, uni.

Can get one from last job one from uni will that be acceptable? If not then a current senior team member. (Then pick someone with a fancy title who's your mate!).

Current manager doesn't really know you so he isn't good/ might not want to.

Oh hold on! Brainwave! It just says professional references, is it the sort of job you have clients etc? That would work as well I'm sure.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 28/07/2021 21:04

Is just ask HR for a reference - most companies don't write references these days anyway. They will just state the dates that you worked at the company and that you haven't had many days off sick. That's it! Honestly don't stress about it. Ask HR at your current workplace. Your University lecturer and HR at your previous workplace. Job done.

Original poster

highwayrun · 28/07/2021 21:05

@NiceGerbil I can't get reference from previous job so can only give my current job and/or university.

I don't want to tell work until I actually give my resignation letter in case it all falls through. That's why I was going to phrase asking it as a way of saying that I've applied to jobs, if I need a reference can I list you rather than saying that I have a job offer and need a reference.

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NiceGerbil · 28/07/2021 21:10

Yes I got that it's fine.

Chase up recruitment manager very excited to start yada yada.

Due to career break etc. Can provide
One from current employment
One from uni
Ok?

If no, then if you have clients that should be fine. Or or if you've done work with other teams someone from the other team.

I wouldn't mention it to current manager he doesn't really know you and obv if you say maybe reference he will know you are looking and I'd personally keep that under my hat.

Colleague who is senior instead of manager is fine. They aren't going to check your reporting line.

It is generally box ticking.

In general I think this is a pointless exercise and can be really tricky to get. And generally a mate does it so you learn nothing. Needs to go IMO.

NiceGerbil · 28/07/2021 21:11

Oh and well done! Congrats on your new job !!