Are You Making These Job Reference Mistakes?

References forget about it!

Checking references and giving references is the biggest waste of time and paper. Honestly, tell me that you remember anything (excepting extreme concerns) regarding a past employee? Any references over 6 months old are a liability; with the possible exception of military records. Even military references are nearly impossible to track down as addresses change every few years due to POS. I just filled out an application and had no way of providing reference for my Flight Chief. He wouldn't remember me anyway! That was nearly 5 years ago. Do you realize how many employees and employer see in 5 years? How about asking for contact information for a 9 year old, minimum wage job --in another state?! Chances are slim to none that any of those employees still work there. So, for the sake of a new job; I'm supposed to keep in touch with past managers? Let bygones be bygones. There's a reason that people provide false references instead of accurate ones. Everything changes. That manager may just be my significant other's ex. Does that make for a good reference? Is that guy really gonna say anything nice about me? No. What about the business that went under when gas prices shot up 2 years ago? My employer and I were just that -employer/employee. We were not friends or family and therefore there's no obligation for them to contact me every time they move or change their phone number. Asking for job references is a great way to ensure that an employee provides false information. Even with the best of intentions some information is bound to be inaccurate or omitted. Any employer that sees job references as being significant is probably not worth working for. A skills assessment, criminal background scope and drug test is all that should be necessary to gain access to employment.

Edna of ID @ Oct 22, 2009 15:32:59 PM

references are a joke.

get rid of references they are utterly useless. biased, colored, jealous, resentful comments coming from sheeple, boomer work-addicts (bossess) who have an ax to grind. Just interview effectively, more interviewing, results, accomplishments and give them a 90-120 day trial. b/c of the massive amts. of lawyers in USA, many corporate dumps do not say anything for fear of the lawsuits. others have supersheeple who are toiling away in some cubicle jealous that a former employee had the testicles/ovaries to leave and find more suitable work. oooh the horror--independent thoughts//ooh my.

bill of CA @ Oct 03, 2009 13:58:08 PM

get rid of references they are utterly useless. biased, colored, jealous, resentful comments coming from sheeple, boomer work-addicts (bossess) who have an ax to grind. Just interview effectively, more interviewing, results, accomplishments and give them a 90-120 day trial. b/c of the massive amts. of lawyers in USA, many corporate dumps do not say anything for fear of the lawsuits. others have supersheeple who are toiling away in some cubicle jealous that a former employee had the testicles/ovaries to leave and find more suitable work. oooh the horror--independent thoughts//ooh my.

bill of CA @ Oct 03, 2009 13:57:51 PM

Let's abolish reference checking!

Reference checking is ultimately useless. It's akin to saying, "I don't trust my own judgement about you. I need others to make my decisions for me."

I've seen people who had glowing references who were complete disasters on the job. I've also seen people who didn't have glowing references who could never succeed at their past workplaces, yet they thrived in ours.

Reference checking is done to guard against negligent hiring. Some states have taken this approach to having job candidates sign waivers that no past employer can be sued so they have the liberty to talk freely about former employees.

I vote for "outside the box" thinking. People today are far more mobile, moving especially because of employment situations. And jobs nowadays are incredibly unstable, as are companies. Mergers and downsizings make entire companies disappear. Instead of speaking so much about what you did for somebody else, employers need to focus on what a person can do for them.

This is especially true for career changers. Your past employers may not know anything about what you can do in a few field. Experience is incredibly useless too, particularly when fields disappear.

I can't wait until the date reference checking becomes obsolete. If enought employers get scared about being sued for it, I hope they delete the process altogether. Then, maybe, just maybe, they'll concentrate on today's (not yesterday's tasks!)

Greg of CA @ Sep 22, 2009 23:17:45 PM

Missing Information in Blog/ Rebuttle on References~Please!

Too bad you don't cover what someone is to do when these "Managers" go off to other jobs and so have you and the years have passed by. These 'Managers' are just that business "Managers", Not personal friends.

Too bad you do not cover what someone should do when a company does not give references period. This is a growing trend within companies and they now are looking at only providing employment dates, salary, etc.

I have left employment asking for letters of reference and I know these past employers valued my dedication to my job, but they don't do that either.

So what are some of us to do? I cannot possibly scramble and keep track on a personal level where these past "Managers" have gone, nor do I want too. Really, give me a break.

References do not gage someone's work ethic, dependability, etc. If someone's employment was long-term a year or more and they were not fired, which can be verified; what is a reference's opinion going to matter anyway? The person clearly left on good terms or without any mishaps.

Anyone you get as a reference is a no brainer, they all say good things or else you would not be giving them as a reference. Personal judgement and great interviewing skills get someone qualified and who will be a good fit within the corporation. Not because of a reference. I just don't believe in them.

Going forward I will tell prospective employers they have met me, discussed the position and my experience relevant to the position, they know my core values, my work ethic and they will receive past employers telephone numbers to verify my employment. I will clearly tell them I am not a baby-sitter and cannot possibly track down where past "Managers" have gone. I don't believe in references and neither should someone looking to hire a great employee unless they choose not to really scope out and learn about a candidate, just as I review and interview the company and hiring Managers and research a company. The HR person and Hiring Manager should really take a valid interest in getting to know a candidate to ensure a great fit all around with the same efforts candidates put into an interview.

Just my beliefs here and how I go about dealing with references. I believe in honesty and I honestly don't believe in references.

OB of NH of NH @ May 27, 2009 17:11:05 PM

Managers as references?

I have worked for so many managers who left me on auto-pilot. They really have no idea what my days were like, how triumphant I was in meeting challenges, or what I accomplished. Usually, I have to keep a list of all I've accomplished. If I didn't, they'd have no idea, nor would they ask. I turn it in. It's glanced at. As long as nothing is falling through the cracks, everyone is happy.

On the contrary, people who have served on collaborative teams with me know my work inside and out. Also, companies reorg, and bosses get reassigned. My co-workers have more longevity with me than any of my direct managers have.

Perhaps we simply come from different industries, I don't know.

LO of MI @ May 18, 2009 19:57:06 PM