Can I ask my current company to do the reference check?

Question

I had a bad time at my previous firm (didn't get along with my supervisor well), so I am trying to avoid leaving my previous boss' contact for reference check. I'm wondering whether MBB ask for specific contacts (i.e. direct supervisor) to do the reference check? Or, it is fine to provide a general HR staff's contact, and the reference check will only check basic information such as criminal record?

If HR requires reference check from a direct supervisor, I'm considering leaving my current firm's partner as contact. Is this doable? Asking current boss to do reference check for your next job just sounds weird and risk. In reality, do people always reach out to prior employers for reference check?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for quite a lot of users, so I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

The risk of your potential future employer doing a reference check depends on both the country you are applying in and the level of suspicion your application files will provoke.
Generally speaking, if you apply in countries that are not known to have recruiting policies based on reference checks (e.g. the US is such a country), the overall risk is low that your potential future employer might reach out to anybody at your current employer. Even in the US, consulting companies usually do not perform reference checks.
Still, in case your application files provoke a lot of suspicion at the recruiter, it might still happen that he/ she will reach out to someone at your current employer.
Given your personal situation and description provided, I would advise you to state the overall contact details.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, please feel free to contact me directly.

I hope this helps,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi!

They don't always reach out to all prior employers.

Also, the scope of the background check is not to check your references.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Anto

Answer 3

Hello,

I believe it is unusual for MBB to reach out to previous employers, unless they have some special reason to do so - they simply have too many candidates to conduct this diligence so thoroughly. If you are extended an offer, you will undergo a background check, but that mostly checks that you actually worked where you said you worked, and for the dates you specified. If you need to put your previous company's contact details in some part of your application, it is ok to put HR/the general company contact info.

Answer 4

Hi there,

Reference checks are different to referrals!

In terms of the reference check, you should be putting the company phone # regardless (i.e. what you see when you google the company, i.e. HR).

So, don't worry, you're “safe” in this regard!

Now, if you were fired for any negative reason, then you're less safe, but if you just left because you had a bad time, this won't be a mark against you.

If they specifically ask for your direct boss contact, you have to leave your boss' contact info.

Answer 5

Hi there,

You need to first understand what the check will consist of and then you can direct them accordingly.

Check with HR.

Best,
Cristian