Hey folks, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I've been with my current job for about 3.5 years and was recently approached by a recruiter about an exciting position at a hospital. The pay is about 30% higher and the benefits look great, so I'm leaning towards accepting the offer. However, the hospital's onboarding process is a bit unfamiliar to me. They want me to email all my references, including my current manager, right away as part of their pre-onboarding requirements. This essentially means I'll have to notify my current job before everything is officially finalized, which feels odd to me. Up until now, my experience has always been to complete the onboarding first, secure an official start date, and only then give my two weeks' notice. The recruiter mentioned that this is becoming a common practice, but I'm wondering if this is really the case or just a red flag. Any insights?
5 Answers
If you haven't told your current manager about your job search, don't use them as a reference! It’s standard not to contact a current employer until you’ve received an offer. If they are still insisting, it suggests they're pressuring you and that's a warning sign. Trust your gut and make sure you are prioritizing your own stability here.
I went through something similar, and I had to draw a line. I didn’t tell my boss until I had everything in writing for the new job. It keeps things professional and prevents any unnecessary drama at work. Just make sure you handle it delicately and set your boundaries.
It’s definitely unusual for a new employer to request references before making a formal offer, and it raises some flags. If they're asking for contact with your current manager before you officially accept, it could put you in a risky situation. My advice? Refuse to provide your current boss as a reference unless there's a solid offer on the table. You can offer previous managers instead.
I wouldn't notify anyone or give notice until you have a signed offer letter in hand. It's kind of standard for companies to check references as part of the onboarding process, but you don’t need to inform your current boss until everything is official. Just keep looking out for yourself and don't rush into anything until everything's locked down.
Agreed! You've got to protect your current job until you're sure about the new one. It's completely normal for companies to want references checked, but they shouldn't expect you to jeopardize your current position.
Typically, a reference check happens *after* you receive an offer, not before. It seems backwards and a bit pushy of the recruiter. You might want to push back and suggest other references for now unless you're completely comfortable with your current manager knowing about your search. If they're insistent, it says a lot about their culture too, and that might be a red flag.
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to compromise my standing at my current job until anything is finalized. This sounds like the recruiter trying to hurry along the process for their benefit.
Exactly, it's a delicate balance. If your references are from the same industry but not your current employer, it gives you the freedom to look without making your situation awkward late in the game.