Please help: Reference check, company only allows HR reference check

Question

Hi forum, recently I got an offer from an MBB firm in Asia, and they required me to provide a referee to contact in addition to a HR.

However, my firm which is based in Europe, has strict policies and requires reference checks to be conducted only through HR. I assume this is due to local standard and also strict personal data protection in EU, which is less of an issue in Asia.

What would be a recommended solution? Should I communicate that I am not able to provide a non-HR referee due to company issue, or should I ask my colleague to be my referee, whereas he violates the company policy?

I am worried that this situation may cause trouble for my onboarding and would greatly appreciate any suggestion.

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

First of all, I would advise you to clearly communicate with the HR department at your future employer about your current company's policies. This transparency will help manage their expectations.
Moreover, should your future employer insist on a personal referee outside of HR guidelines, you might need to respectfully explain that this is not possible without violating company policies.
Lastly, in the end, I am certain that there will be a solution to this actually minor problem.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi there,

Congrats on the offer!

I would play this very transparently and communicate the issue with both sides to see where there is wiggle room. For sure, there is a way to make it happen so that both sides are okay with it.

The first point of contact should be HR. Maybe they can facilitate the reference discussion with a non-HR person or get a written statement. I would not go violate the company policy.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 3

Hi,

I would recommend calling your HR department at your current firm and explaining the situation. Ask if they can provide a solution. Often, HR can work out an alternative without violating internal guidelines or making an exception. For sure, this is not the first time. If HR can’t provide a solution, I would recommend communicating your situation transparently to MBB.

Best of luck,

Kairavee

Answer 4

You have to communicate transparently with both parties, and work with them to solve this. Start with your own company HR.

Answer 5

Hi there! Sounds like a dreadful situation — I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this. It's always very dif... (read entire answer)

Hi there! Sounds like a dreadful situation — I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this. It's always very difficult when your team is sending you mixed signals and not b... (read entire answer)

Answer 6

Hi there, First of all, congratulations on completing the application process with McKinsey! I would be happy to shar... (read entire answer)

Hi there, First of all, congratulations on completing the application process with McKinsey! I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation: First of all, please keep i... (read entire answer)

Answer 7

Hi there, As my colleagues have previously answered, your best bet would be to wait before reaching out. I would reco... (read entire answer)

Hi there, As my colleagues have previously answered, your best bet would be to wait before reaching out. I would recommend asking your friend to follow up on your behalf as they... (read entire answer)