References before handing in notice

resign with a proposed date of 2-3 months. Hopefully they don't put you on garden leave or send you to a remote outpost for the agreed notice period.

Any reason not to just tell them you're leaving now?

Tell the new employer no. There's no way I'd resign without my vetting being done even if I was 100% sure that I'd get through it.

I work in financial services so get this a lot, and whilst we do want a reference from the current/last employer, we know we can't always get it. They should have systems in place to deal with this.

Any reason not to just tell them you’re leaving now?

In case it falls through

Tell the new employer no. There’s no way I’d resign without my vetting being done even if I was 100% sure that I’d get through it.

I work in financial services so get this a lot, and whilst we do want a reference from the current/last employer, we know we can’t always get it. They should have systems in place to deal with this.

The problem is they won't offer a start date without vetting / clearance being complete.

Vetting/security clearence is not the same thing as a reference from your previous employer. It's police/criminal record checks, ID checks and maybe a credit check for anti fraud/corruption risks, depending on the level of vetting required.

Most employers won't even give a reference other than confirming that you worked there between x dates - saying anything further can cause them more problems than it's worth.

I'm confused as the new company can carry out the vetting independently?..They must realise asking you for a current emplyere reference puts you in a really difficult situation. If they can't appreciate that, then it's a bit of a red flag.

Most employers won’t even give a reference other than confirming that you worked there between x dates – saying anything further can cause them more problems than it’s worth.

This. We can literally tell people that Fred started on this date (and stopped on this date, if applicable).

Is it wort contacting the new company and asking if they can't finish vetting without reference as you're kinda in a catch-22 if not.

I once got a reference off a senior manager who would not dob me in it, not my line manager but someone who knew my work. Like you, i didnt want to resign then to fail reference and be left in the lurch.

I explained to new employer my reservations, they accepted it.

As posted though, I m pretty sure employment refs now are just confirmation that you worked there and the dates.

Tell the new employer no. There’s no way I’d resign without my vetting being done even if I was 100% sure that I’d get through it.

Definitely don't resign until your new position is confirmed after references and checks. MrsMC is a social worker and this is pretty common.

Telling your employer that you need a reference and (assuming everything goes according to plan) you intend to leave in, say, 2 months is NOT the same as putting in a letter of resignation, is it?

As in, you shouldn't lose employment protections and so on by just mentioning that you need a reference, even if the new job somehow falls through?

Telling your employer that you need a reference and (assuming everything goes according to plan) you intend to leave in, say, 2 months is NOT the same as putting in a letter of resignation, is it?

No, but it's got the potential to have other negative impacts if your management decides to be a bit toxic about it.

I'm moving jobs soon and my new employer hasn't even asked for references, if they had it would certainly have been a no until I'd given my notice.

Telling your employer that you need a reference and (assuming everything goes according to plan) you intend to leave in, say, 2 months is NOT the same as putting in a letter of resignation, is it?

Can be worse.
Not unheard of to be escorted off site (even if they don't find out where you are going). Then only a months wages in lieu of notice. (or whatever your contract says)
Or in some of the more, errr, "incesuous" industries you might find that half your current management structure play golf with half the management structure of the new place (have heard of offers being withdrawn based on informal chats, if nothing is signed, you're up shit creek. Think someone one here had that as well, can vaguely remember a post somewhere.)
Or if you fail vetting, you're going to look a right plonker carrying on working, can be career limiting once they know you've tried to leave.

Or in some of the more, errr, “incesuous” industries you might find that half your current management structure play golf with half the management structure of the new place

I've certainly had my manager ask me to pop in for a chat only to be asked what had prompted me to look for a job elsewhere - turns out the interview I'd had two days previously was someone who knew my boss and rang him to have a chat to see if I was worth hiring. At that point no-one at work knew I'd been looking so I was at first mortified to be found out and later furious with the interviewer to be so unprofessional. It worked out OK as my boss listened to me and took on board my feedback, so things got better, but either way there's no way I'd have gone to work for the other guy...

What did the new employer say when you explained the problem?

I forgot to update this, as they just needed proof I worked where I said I did, they allowed me to provide a print out from HMRC. Just in case anyone else is in the situation in future.

So you actually resigned yet?

Yes, got proof from HMRC, then the new company gave me a start date, so I could then hand in my notice. All sorted 🙂