It's important to know reporting relationships when considering what prospective employer may do in a reference check. Even though you've given the senior vice president's name as a reference, the prospective employer may still resort to calling the director you reported to if she can't reach the senior VP. Although you didn't use that person's name as a reference, it may have been on the application that you filled out. You may want to advise your former supervisor, even if you do not regularly use him or her as a reference, about the potential for a reference check and explain what the company is looking for.