PE Offer: References from Current Employer Required?

Just got offer for PE job - they've asked for references, but didn't specify if it should be from my current job (in investment banking):

Is it expected that references should be from current employer? I would rather not refer them to anyone at my current job. I was thinking of giving references from my internship and former job.

4 Comments
 
Best Response

I suspect the expectation will be that you provide current colleagues as a reference. If you are uncomfortable doing so, I would recommend you reach back out to the PE firm and explain the situation to them. I’d be surprised if you got all the way through the interview process and they didn’t ask you if your current employer was aware that you are interviewing. If you’ve communicated all along that your current employer is not aware or not supportive of your interviewing, then it would be fair in my opinion for you to exclude them as a reference.

Note also if your former job and internship were not investment banks, this creates a different dynamic because those jobs are far less relevant to the PE job.

Not sure if it makes you feel better, but the reference checking stage is usually a “check the box” type activity. Unless there are serious red flags that come out of the reference checks, the PE firm is likely to proceed with your offer.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

CompBanker

Thanks for the always insightful comments.

My previous job and internship were both in investment banking. I'm hoping this will suffice. Thoughts?

Additionally, yes, I've communicated all along that my current employer is unaware of my interviews.

 

Based on this I think you ought to be fine. There are, of course, other details that could cause the firm to behave differently, but I would be satisfied. This assumes your first job wasn't extra short or a long time ago (multiple years). Also, you never know how people will react to these sorts of things as there is no "rulebook." Best of luck to you and congrats!

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

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