6 weeks ago, I accepted a job offer for a senior position based overseas and signed and returned the offer letter. The onboard date was determined to be 2 weeks from now. Everything seems good. I am in the process of making international relocation, selling my house, furniture, cars...
Yesterday, I was notified that the prospective employer will need to do reference check and ask me to provide 3 references that I had worked with. The employer said that this process is only specific to senior position hire and will allow me talk to my references ahead of time. It is claimed that the reference check will help employer know more about me and the results of reference check will do nothing with the job offer that was already extended and signed, except if a dismissal involved a serious integrity issue.
There is no reason to believe that I won't pass the reference check as I had good performance and good work relationship with my references. But it makes me very uncomfortable about this unexpected process and very hesitant to resume my ongoing effort in moving abroad.
Plus, according to local labor law, the first 6-month employment with new employer is probationary. In other words, either employer or employee could terminate the employment without any reason or cost, e.g. severance package, within the first 6 months of employment.
I will certainly opt in the reference check process and contact and provide my references and hope to complete this process in 1-2 weeks.
In order to take this position I will need to sell my house, cars, and other not easily moved stuff. Then get a new home to move myself, my wife and my kids into it. This request late in the process concerns me. What steps should I take to protect myself?