How many references do you need to provide when hopping firms? Who can you ask?

Hey guys -- thinking of jumping ship to become an Analyst elsewhere. Only thing I'm worried about is that I know my boss (who I do 95% of the my work with, though several PMs involved at various points) will be unhappy if I leave as he expects that I work under him for another 3yrs before becoming an Analyst here (though given how things are going, I'm increasingly skeptical this will ever happen). So I can't ask him for a reference as I'm afraid he'd tank my chances at another firm. This is also my first and only job (been here for over 4yrs) so no references I can ask outside of the firm. I think background checks usually ask for a couple references (I needed 2 to get into this firm, used folks from internships).

Two questions to you all:

1. How many references do you need to provide when moving jobs? 2 or 3? Any cases where you don't need any?

2. Who do you have to ask? I'd probably ask one or two PMs here, but can I also ask a friend who's at the same level as me? Or potentially ask a friend who's an Analyst? I just want to avoid asking my boss but how meaningfully close does the reference need to be to me work?

Much appreciated to you all

3 Comments
 

Normally it is one reference per role held. Some companies ask for HR references, so your former HR team have to email the new employer directly confirming title, length of service, name.
I have used peer references before and also used one of my direct reports.

 

Thanks so much for the response. Aside from HR references which are pretty straightforward, what about references from people who attest to the quality of your work? This is what I'm trying to figure out. It sucks that I primarily work with just 1 person and that he'll be angry if I leave, so I'm torn as to who to ask. For these types of references, are peers really ok? If that's the case, I know 1-3 guys to ask

 

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