Reference-Checking Secrets Employers Won't Tell You

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protruding of AL 3:47PM February 16, 2012

Great article and soooo true!

Dorothy O of OK 4:58PM January 31, 2012

I’ve worked in HR for many years and have checked countless references. It very true that there is no set list of questions that we have to choose from when we talk to a reference. That is why it is important that applicants choose carefully who they list as a reference. I just saw a list of faq, http://www.allisontaylor.com/reference_check_faq.asp, that I thought could be very helpful for anyone trying to put together a list of references.

jenny of TN 10:34AM January 30, 2012

That's all fine unless you worked in HR- who do you go to then?

dd 2:17PM January 26, 2012

#6
I've encountered applications that require 3 references who are not supervisors but have knowledge of my work, skills, etc. I'm uncertain who to offer because my supervisors' bosses wouldn't have much personal experience with me and peers don't have the whole story the way a supervisor does or necessarily pay attention to my work enough to be able to speak intelligently about it. I usually end up listing a peer because I can't think of anyone else who would have knowledge of my work.
On another note, I'm missing something on this site. I can never read more than the three most recent comments. Clicking on the "Comment (#)" link doesn't give me the rest. What am I missing?

Nethwen of NC 6:52PM January 25, 2012

For #2 and #6 - What if your most recent supervisor is totally unhinged? The last person I reported to was a complete mess (drugs, alcoholism, personality disorder, you name it) and I do not want to ever use this person as a reference or have anyone call him about me.
There are other higher-ups who can and will vouch for me, and who I actually worked with since my guy couldn't function most of the time. However, I am worried this will look bad because, regardless of his issues, he was "officially" my supervisor. He is just so awful. I don't want to have anything to do with him, nor do I want my next job to be dependent upon his reference.

Vicks of NJ 6:49PM January 25, 2012

#4 is why I hate references! Giving references can be really hard. Many people, if they agree to be a reference, will enthusiastically say a person is great even if that isn't true. And for everyone of those people, there is another more reserved manager who will say in monotone that a candidate is good even if they were the best in the world. Whether or not a candidate's old manager is enthusiastic or reserved is just pure luck.
I do think hiring managers should check with references; but I honestly think they should be used mostly to make sure the candidate is honest and doesn't have any egregious violations behind them.

KayDay of AK 4:16PM January 25, 2012

I had direct experience with #2 just last week. I was at a job interview and was interviewed by 3 panels of 3 people each. One of the interviewers started quizzing me about a past job I had in graduate school. Turns out that the company I was interviewing with was one of the vendors for the project I worked on in graduate school. The interviewer, who was not even a "top dog" in the company by any means, called up the project lead and asked about my performance. So, YES, people can and WILL call your old employer, especially if they know someone there.

JS of MD 4:16PM January 25, 2012

John, bullying isn't illegal, but a hostile workplace based on your race, religion, gender etc. is. Those laws are enforced at both the federal and state level, but they're civil rather than criminal.
JD, it's not sneaky to simply ask a former employer for his or her assessment of a candidate. It's pretty normal, actually! For instance, if a candidate applies for a job with me and I see she used to work with someone I know and respect, I'd be foolish not to ask that person for their take.

Alison Green of DC 12:33PM January 25, 2012

It seems to me that going about asking references in a sneaky way only invites desperation and eventual dishonesty. You can't really demand integrity, then turn around and punish it.
As well, there is significant legal recourse if a former disgruntled employer is giving a false account of your work experience. You can file a lawsuit for slander, and while you may not win, the employer will still be responsible for recooperating the financial losses that hiring an attorney will bring if the slander can't be substantiated. Call the reference yourself, prior, tape the conversation.
It's simply not worth it, in most cases, for an employer to give a poor reference.

Jd of CA 11:26AM January 25, 2012