<prompt> Human: I made it to final rounds in a job interview process and have been selected as the final candidate. They said will offer me the job pending a good reference and background check. Salary and benefits wont be talked about until then though theyve told me the salary range for the position. When they asked for references they said they strongly prefer one of my references to be my boss. However, my boss is NOT supportive of me looking for another job - whenever Ive broached the subject before hes gotten very defensive and its very uncomfortable. He wouldnt sabotage a reference check if I included him but I would really prefer not to have to talk to him about this until I have a written offer that I want to accept. If they decide for whatever reason not to offer me the job, then Ive created a huge divide with my boss and current work situation that I would like to avoid at all possible costs. Is there a tactful way that I can push back and not include my boss as a reference without looking like Im trying to hide something? How can I explain this? This is my first job out of college been working here for 6.5 years so I dont have another former boss I can list but I do have other department heads that oversee my work that I can include in my reference list.  <response>: If you have a former boss not your current one, you can use that instead.They should be sensitive to the idea that people commonly look for new jobs without telling their current employer. And in fact, in many places at least in the States and Ireland, there are many questions a current employer cant answer about an employee.If they press for your current boss information, simply tell them it may have a negative impact on your work situation, and youre not comfortable doing so. 