Do grad schemes ask for job references?

Hey, i just finished my first year, so i know i got some time to like get in order i guess aha, but I was just wondering if grad schemes often ask for references from previous jobs? (Maybe this is a straightforward question, but idk).

I currently do some tutoring for gcse / a level maths but not with a company so its self-employed, so idk if anything there can be used as a reference, and besides that i just helped out with odd jobs from sixth form for neighbors or something lol

i am gonna do more volunteering (im not in the UK for summer lol), and idk put myself out there more, so it should be fine, but yeah i just wanna know, would i NEED references of past jobs / employers

thanks for answering :smile:

Reply 1

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Al3x235

Hey, i just finished my first year, so i know i got some time to like get in order i guess aha, but I was just wondering if grad schemes often ask for references from previous jobs? (Maybe this is a straightforward question, but idk).
I currently do some tutoring for gcse / a level maths but not with a company so its self-employed, so idk if anything there can be used as a reference, and besides that i just helped out with odd jobs from sixth form for neighbors or something lol
i am gonna do more volunteering (im not in the UK for summer lol), and idk put myself out there more, so it should be fine, but yeah i just wanna know, would i NEED references of past jobs / employers
thanks for answering :smile:

In my experience generally most employers don’t, ive only had one employer actually go through the effort of contacting my references and this was in academia and they did it as standard practice (in general if they do ask for a reference I think its more likely to be a sanity check making sure nothing unexpectedly negative appears).

Id say it’s not uncommon for you to be asked to provide a reference they can contact (although many won’t follow up).

I’ve always been required to go through background checks (of varying levels depending on the role), and specialist companies exist which do this on behalf of employers nowadays.

For a graduate role your university tutor or dissertation tutor would probably be deemed appropriate by an employer id think.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

Smack

Volunteer Team

Original post by Al3x235

Yes, you're very likely to be asked to provide references. Lecturers will be suitable, and will likely have provided references for many students previously. Any leader of any volunteering activity you have attended will also probably be suitable - they don't have to be drawn from paid employment.