Reference Checks
Hi everyone,
I’m currently going through a hiring process for a government position in Canada (provincial public sector), and I’ve reached the reference check stage. I wanted to get some perspective on whether what I’m experiencing is normal or not.
At the beginning of the reference stage, I was asked to provide my reference contacts and confirm whether any of them were my current or most recent supervisor. The wording also mentioned that if I was unable to provide certain information, I should let them know.
I’m currently employed, but I am on a medical leave. I have not informed my current supervisor that I am job searching, so I initially did not include them as a reference. Instead, I provided previous supervisors and colleagues who can speak to my work.
After some back-and-forth, HR clarified that contacting my current supervisor is a mandatory requirement in order to proceed to the offer stage. They also stated that if I do not provide my current supervisor as a reference, my application would be withdrawn.
What I’m trying to understand is:
Is it normal in Canadian government hiring to require a current supervisor reference at this stage?
Or does it vary a lot depending on department or hiring manager?
How do people usually handle this when they are still employed and don’t want their current workplace to know they are job searching?
If a current supervisor reference is not provided, is it typically an automatic disqualification?
I understand reference checks are important, I’m just trying to understand what is standard practice versus what might be more strict in this specific case.
Would really appreciate hearing others’ experiences or perspectives.