Numerous references required?

40 Comments

1. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 4,2025 at 12:17AM UTC

   What kind of/level position is this?

2. Li luMarch 4,2025 at 12:50AM UTC

   Mid

3. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 1:05AM UTC

   Are you really willing to walk away from this finalist position over a few references?

4. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 1:19AM UTC

   I know there are a lot of people out of work, maybe even including you. But how a company brings you on board is an omen for what your experience is going to be like with that company. And while many of us are seeking work, just as many are seeking healthy work environments. An unhealthy work environment can be just as bad as not having a job at all.

5. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 1:51AM UTC

   Thank you. I have asked them to let me know SPECIFICALLY what they want to find out from the reference before I reach out to anyone else. It's starting to feel like a fishing expedition, which doesn't make me feel good as a candidate. At the same time, this is a tough job market so I am trying to find the balance. If it was a much better job market, I wouldn't even think twice about walking away from this. It feels like they're making up the process as they go along, at least for this particular position. There been to occasions where they have told me they're ready to go forward with the offer and then they come back with "one more thing."

6. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 12:55PM UTC

   Six references in total really does seem like a lot. Is it possible someone they spoke with said something less than glowing about you that you are unaware of, and perhaps they're trying to make sure that's an exception and not the rule.

7. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 1:57PM UTC

   I would never give "friends" as professional references, only colleagues with direct knowledge of my capabilities

8. Tonia D. WoolfolkMarch 4,2025 at 2:28PM UTC

   I agree that it could mean that a reference may have said something that they feel requires more information/input from others. It is backwards and frustrating that they wouldn't have contacted references prior to salary negotiation and start date.

9. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 4:23PM UTC

   They claimed that ALL 3 references were *excellent" SMH

10. Zach BonfanteMarch 5,2025 at 1:42PM UTC

    fwiw, as a recruiter, I'd always have salary and start verbally agreed to before contacting references. I can count on one hand how many negative references I have taken in over a decade of recruiting. Completing references is usually just a box to check. This seems like a company throwing out red flags left and right

11. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 9:29PM UTC

    Doesn't sound like they're really motivated to fill the position. Just trying to slow things down and pretend to be working on it.

12. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 12:55AM UTC

    Usually when a company comes back and moves the goalposts or changes the request for items it's because they are rethinking the role or internal focus.

    Anyway, it's usually because leadership is very insecure and second guessing themselves. It's not you or your qualifications. It's them.

13. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 1:44PM UTC

    Don't most companies now refuse to provide references beyond employment dates and whether the person is eligible for re-hire? And who is going to provide a bad reference for themselves? I'd be tempted to say you're only able to provide 3 and see if they back off on the offer. You may be dodging a bullet if so. This doesn't seem like a company that has itself together.

14. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 4:13PM UTC

    Employment verification is different from references. Your first sentence is referring to employment verification.

15. Celena BartonMarch 5,2025 at 1:45PM UTC

    Agree. Sounds like maybe there weren’t enough references provided that were direct supervisors.

16. Antonia CalzettiMarch 5,2025 at 2:27PM UTC

    Six references is excessive unless the initial three references you provided were problematic. This is their issue, not yours. Companies might request additional references for various reasons:

    A reference isn't responding

    The provided references aren't direct supervisors

    They're potentially trying to extend or manage the hiring process

    The best approach is to ask them directly for clarification about why they need more references. Request specifics about what additional information they're seeking that wasn't covered by your original references.

    Don't feel pressured to provide an unnecessary number of references. Your initial references should speak to your professional capabilities, and if they want more, they should explain why.

17. GirlBossanova934974March 5,2025 at 2:43PM UTC

    In several decades of work, I have never heard of asking for more references after you went through the first set. This is a bright red flag. The ONLY reason that the company might do this is if you gave them marginal references to start with. If there were 1-3 former supervisors in your first list, this company is basically telling you that NO ONE is in charge and they don't do business with established norms. I would get an explanation from the company before I went out and got 3 more references. What MORE do they want to know? Ask for specifics.

18. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 3:37PM UTC

    Is it the actual hiring company asking or a third party agency the hiring company is using for background checks?

    If it's the latter u need to inform the company directly. I dealt with something similar during my most recent hiring process and the company shut them down. The agencies bill by the hr afterall. . .

19. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 3:43PM UTC

    Make sure ur references include at least one manager. That may also b the issue. If u made it this far get a friend to help fake it for u if necessary!

20. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 4:15PM UTC

    You're not wrong that this is strange -- I'd challenge you, though, to consider whether it's worth fretting about rather than just doing it. Do you have more references you can provide? Do you want the job enough that you're willing to overlook this weird part in the journey? Was the rest of the interview process relatively standard/red-flag-free?

21. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 4:36PM UTC

    I would agree perhaps the only reason for this is they are struggling to decide between you and another and their indecision is causing this. Ask this point blank. For example say something like this: Is this because you need a tie breaker between me and another candidate? or have you made the decision to hire me and just need verification of a specific skill set from a reference that can validate what you specifically need and if so what skill is that, so that I can provide the most aligned person to their experience with me doing that?

    Feel free to use my comments word for word...

    Good luck.

22. Elizabeth VenableMarch 6,2025 at 2:18PM UTC

    I think it's actually a pretty simple request and clear candidate is in the running. If this were me I would be excited.

23. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 4:37PM UTC

    Since you have already provided 3 references and received "great" feedback I would ask them to please clarify/specify exactly what type of additional references they are looking for. If they can't give you a response that differs from what you have already provided them with I would see this as a HUGE red flag.

    I worked for a company that had a huge power struggle within HR and Management due to the hiring process (i.e. if HR insisted on a particular candidate, management would discard said candidate and vice versa). This "conflict" between the two extended into performance reviews, raises, etc. Several excellent candidates would be turned away as well as several excellent employees leaving the company due to how the dissention between HR and upper management was affecting raises, promotions, reviews, etc. It was a miserable mess to be stuck in the middle of and like many others I eventually moved on from the company.

    You should trust your gut on this. If something feels off, more than likely there is something going on that has nothing to do with you. Best of luck!

24. AnonymousMarch 6,2025 at 1:32PM UTC

    ?

25. AnonymousMarch 5,2025 at 8:24PM UTC

    Does the company have any government contracts? I have seen this as a reason for having multiple references. But, as others have said, asking why they want more, and possibly tailor the additional references to their requirements, would be a apprpriate.

26. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netMarch 6,2025 at 1:22PM UTC

    Ridiculous. Did you provide former supervisors?

27. AnonymousMarch 6,2025 at 1:31PM UTC

    Show them your tax form it should contain all the places you worked at.

28. AnonymousMarch 7,2025 at 7:56PM UTC

    Except your yearly salary is NONE of their biz. A company could use that info to cap your pay. . .

29. Jonna Ferguson, ACCMarch 6,2025 at 1:35PM UTC

    This IS very unusual as others have commented. You said you've already asked them for clarification so this advice may be late to the party. Putting myself in your shoes, instead of asking them what they were looking for, I would ask them, "What perspective was missing from the first 3 references I provided, so I can be sure the next 3 give you the information you need to make a decision?"

    You can still choose whether or not you move forward with providing the new references, or listen to your Spidey senses and tell them, "While it was wonderful to meet you and I appreciate you considering me for the role, I'm moving forward in another direction and have decided to withdraw my application."

30. Elizabeth VenableMarch 6,2025 at 2:16PM UTC

    The question is, do you want the job?

31. AnonymousMarch 6,2025 at 2:50PM UTC

    Don't you think this could potentially be a red flag for the organization? Seems a little disorganzied to get all the way to the end and double the number of references required.

32. Elizabeth VenableMarch 6,2025 at 7:54PM UTC

    No. I don't see the problem. Why disorganized? It seems perfectly straightforward what they are asking. Also, if it's too much work, just move on. In the end this person is essentially refusing to do the work. It's in no way disorganized. It's a higher level of consideration.

33. Elizabeth VenableMarch 6,2025 at 2:20PM UTC

    Lol as a professional grant writer I have to ask why people find this to be a strange request. It means she's in the final round. As a commenter said below phone a friend. At this point they are considering you. Have your mom pretend to be someone. Seriously.

34. Elizabeth VenableMarch 6,2025 at 7:51PM UTC

    Sometimes you have to complete the application process. This person just removed herself from consideration. Sometimes you have to work to get a good job.

35. Elizabeth VenableMarch 6,2025 at 7:52PM UTC

    They don't want to hire someone who isn't willing to complete the task. Problem solved if you make the choice that it is too hard. Fewer options to win though.

36. AnonymousMarch 7,2025 at 1:35PM UTC

    Lol I'm sorry but your comments are pretty ridiculous. I don't know anyone who would be okay with giving three references only to be asked for three more AFTER the employer has already spoken with the first three. I have never known of an employer to do that EVER. Who has time for that, whether it be employer or employee ? If they were even serious about the candidate they would have decided after the first three or moved on. Seems to me it's more of a power play from a toxic employer.

37. AnonymousMarch 7,2025 at 1:42PM UTC

    Sounds like an extremely toxic employer who just wants to see how hard they can make you work. I can pretty much guarantee you it would be no different if you were employed by them. It's a test that isn't normal. Especially not in these times. I would thank them for the opportunity and move on.

38. Patricia TiffanyMarch 7,2025 at 7:07PM UTC

    Many of my peers hold off providing references until there is a job offer that they have agreed to pending the reference check. I have talked with those whose name I have provided and 99% have never received any request for information. Recruiters often use that as a way to get more names for people they can place.

39. MidwestMaven456March 7,2025 at 10:54PM UTC

    With all of the padded resumes and "artistic license" that people have taken with their resumes, with their credentials and with their writings, is it no wonder that employers are doing more than a double check on references? Toxic? I think careful is the word you're looking for, because companies don't want to get in trouble for not doing their due diligence. It looks like you are a contender, so take that as a good sign.

40. AnonymousMarch 9,2025 at 3:25PM UTC

    I just went through something similar. But in my case they were trying to expedite the process and do the work of HR. They didn't realize that they needed 2 supervisors and one colleague. Maybe that is what they are checking. I would ask what specific references they need.