Q. I’m a mid-level manager who has had five bosses in eight years, and an ever-changing set of goals. After seven years of stellar evaluations, I just received a review that convinces me I need to leave. How should I handle references?
A. Life is too short to stay with an unappreciative boss. You’re wise to consider moving on.
Your potential new employer (let’s call her Susan) will want to talk to your current supervisor. You can deal with this in a couple of ways. First, you should alert Susan that your current employer doesn’t know you’re looking and a premature announcement might make life difficult. Alert her to the fact that this supervisor has been there a short time and does not know you well. Tell Susan you’d appreciate her not calling your current organization unless you’re a finalist, and ask her to get in touch with you first. (If she won’t respect that request, you don’t want to work there, anyway.) You might also offer an alternative: your past written reviews.
Often, future employers will leave your current supervisor for last when calling references. If you choose your references wisely, Susan may not feel the need to delve further. How do you do that? First, pick people who know your work broadly and deeply. Former supervisors are best, or senior-level managers who understand your situation. Second, find references who can counteract possible perceived weaknesses. If leadership is a critical component of the new position but you believe your current boss would criticize you in this area, find a reference who thinks you’re a great leader. This is a time when you can be damned with faint praise.
What if you keep coming up number two? At some point, you may feel the need to leave your current situation even if you don’t have another job. It’s worth getting professional advice about how you can move on – preferably with a decent severance package. And don’t forget to negotiate exactly what the organization will say about you. Good luck.
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