Applying for a new job- they ask your current employer for a reference BEFORE interview

[AngeloMysterioso]

I’m applying for a new job, and job spec says this-

“Please supply the names and contact details of two referees, one of which must be your current or most recent employer. We intend to take up reference on all shortlisted candidates before interview.”

Is it me or is this a bit shit? It means my current employer knows I want to leave and am looking for a new job before I’ve even been interviewed, and obviously there’s no guarantee I’ll get the one I’m applying for. I really like the sound of the job I’m applying for but this feels so risky. It doesn’t appear that there’s a way to opt out or until after interview/in the event of an offer.

Massively...

I would provide proof of employment at my current place and decline permission of references until they were extending me a firm offer if they weren't happy I wouldnt apply.

With my current employer it would potentially endanger my existing jobs.

Is it Education or the NHS? They do that - which makes it really difficult for staff trying to escape a toxic environment.

I’ve had this for my last two jobs. Makes it really really awkward and I hope it doesn’t become common

It is in an education setting, but the role is a support position, not a teaching or TA job.

Standard in teaching.
Rubbish though- so awkward.

It is standard in teaching & schools, but agree it is rubbish. It means those in a really shit toxic work environment run the risk of making that even worse if they try and then don’t get the new job.

I’m not applying for a teaching role, so this must be standard for all roles advertised. I might give them a call tomorrow before submitting my application to see if they can hold off until after interview. There would be hell to pay if my current employer got wind and then I wasn’t offered the new role!

I applied for an admin role in a school and it was the same, it is standard practice for all roles within a school to do this before the interview.

They won't agree to hold off until after the interview as it will go against their recruitment policy.

But why? It only seems designed to get everyone rejected prior to interview in the shit with their present employers. Can I not just provide evidence of my employment? I’ve got payslips and appraisals going back to my start date which I would happily supply.

You could give the contact details of your HR person/team rather than line manager.

Many MATs run HR centrally, so your line manager need not be told.

Because it's a child centered setting and usually a panel will appoint so it allows for candidates to be rejected before time is wasted on interviewing a candidate who's references raise concerns.

I just don’t know what to do now. I really like the sound of this role, I fit the spec to a T but
my life at work will be hell the minute that reference is requested, and even more so if I don’t get the job and I’m stuck there. That’s assuming they don’t find a way to manage me out and I end up with no job at all…

They can't sack you for looking for a new job.

Put the Headteacher as a reference and speak to the Head to say you'd like to keep it confidential. This will be so small-fry and insignificant to the Head (sorry, but it will) that they wont give it a second thought. When/if a reference goes to them, HR will probably action it anyway.

You're over thinking it.

I'm SLT in a big secondary and line manage 13 pastoral staff. Honestly, you applying elsewhere will probably matter far less than you realise.

Staff turnover in school support staff is massive. It's not a big deal that staff are moving on.

I don’t currently work in an education setting and never have, and I’m not applying for a teaching or pastoral position- this is a purely admin role but with a lot of crossover with what I’m currently doing and my background. In every other role and industry I’ve worked in I’ve never heard of this being a thing! It sounds like absolutely terrible practice, even if it is standard in education.

And believe me, it won’t be small fry to my current boss.

I knew this would either be NHS or teaching.

Most famous for their toxic workplace environments.

I work in school admin. Schools are used to this, but it's hard when you're moving into education from a different sector. I'd phone the school HR and ask them to consider a delayed reference. They might agree to it if you're lucky (I've known this happen for a non-teaching school role, when an exception was made). No harm in asking. Could you perhaps offer a reference from a previous employer in the interim? They might not agree to it though, and if that's the case you'll sadly just need to decide whether it's worth going for the job anyway.

To be honest what's terrible is your toxic current work environment where you fear the reprocussions of applying for a role that's in your best interests.

I agree, which is one of the reasons I want to leave! The employment market isn’t great where I live though, which is why I got excited when this job came up- but my heart sank when after basically typing out my entire CV and writing a very specific supporting statement, I saw that.

It's part of a safer recruitment practice. Standard for schools, even for admin staff I'm afraid. It's not ensure people coming onto site are considered safe and also as not to waste people's time.

And no matter that it can completely fuck up the lives of anyone who applies except the person they hire? I mean just because it’s standard doesn’t mean it’s ok… I volunteer at my local scout group and a children’s hospital and neither of them had to contact my employer before they even met me. And those roles involve way more contact with much younger and more vulnerable children.

I would write that 'references are available once an offer of employment is made' on your statement.

That's what I do if a potential employer say they want to contact referees before an interview.

It is completely unreasonable for them to ask for that for a standard job.

Also, I am a manager and when I get requests from an employer for me to provide a reference for a former employee before their job interview I always reply that I only provide full references once/if they have made an offer and that I will be happy to provide a positive reference for the individual (if appropriate) at that stage.

I don't have time to write detailed references every time a former team member has an interview.

I had this for my most recent job. Argued with them about it but they wouldn't budge - large employer with a set process.

I only went ahead with it because I was sure I'd get the job. I guess I'd also have done it if I would definitely leave regardless.

I did get it but their process was glacial and I had 2 month wait before I could hand in my notice. Current employer were generally shitty with me, cancelled my place on a training course and denied a weeks leave that would normally have been approved.

I've never come across this in the NHS, or they at least have a box which you can tick to say you don't want references contacted prior to interview.

As well as creating more work for everyone involved, it's really not fair is it and can create problems for person applying.

I work in HR in a school. It’s very common for candidates to ask us not to approach for a reference until a job offer has been made and accepted. You are usually asked for two references, as long as one can give a reference at the shortlisting stage you will be fine.

I work in education and this is standard practice but I don’t agree with it. I’m in the same boat, applied for a role and stipulated that I was happy for my previous employer to be contacted and not my current unless I was offered the role. A lot of the online applications such as My New Term have a tick box if you give permission for references to be requested before interview. I always offer 2 previous employers if they need it. It’s never stopped me getting an interview. I totally understand the awkwardness of not wanting your current employer to know.