I wish hiring managers would contact references or read cover letters and reference letters.

15 Comments

1. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdFebruary 19,2025 at 2:27PM UTC

   I agree that if a company asks potential employees to submit cover letters and references, it would be good if they read them.

   I disagree that HR is lazy, at least in every scenario. Sometimes, HR is overwhelmed with the number of responses that they can't take the time. Although, there is an argument that it might make things easier if they still read the cover letter first as it should be a summary of what a person's professional and personal accomplishments are.

2. AnonymousFebruary 22,2025 at 6:06PM UTC

   I had understood that companies/refs no longer (for liability reasons) want to share many details (beyond dates of employment, job title, etc). I have not been asked to provide references for my last 2 or 3 jobs, though I'm sure HR contacts past employers to make sure I held the jobs on my resume. Background checks are also done.

3. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 3:09PM UTC

   Completely agree with this post!

4. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 3:23PM UTC

   Oh my god no! So many hiring managers can barely get through an interview without asking improper or even illegal interview questions. Quite often, it seems hiring managers don't even know what they are looking for.

   Also, the unfortunate thing is hiring managers are checking references. just not the official references a candidate provides but rather back door. Reaching out to their contacts.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 19,2025 at 11:29PM UTC

   What makes you think hiring managers are looking for transferrable skills?

   It's not your reference's job to provide deeper insights into a candidate's capabilities, work ethic, and potential cultural fit. - that's the responsibility of the candidate and the candidate's resume.

   Cover letters are opinion pieces. Resumes should be factual documents. I'm interested in facts.

   Most folks can find two or three people willing to lie for them on a reference check. Some jobseekers provide their current manager as a reference and the manager is trying so hard to get rid of them, they'll give a glowing reference. These are not things a hiring decision should be based on.

   And don't even get me started on reference letters. So easy to forge.

6. AnonymousFebruary 22,2025 at 5:16PM UTC

   I think HR is getting way into the woods of hiring and being more inefficient and ineffective.

   We are all motivated by money AND then enjoying the work we do, having to make up answers deflecting from that just to look good, put it into cover letters and interview questions, etc. is exhausting and phony. As pretty much a lot of HR.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 23,2025 at 12:33AM UTC

   Wut?

8. AnonymousFebruary 20,2025 at 1:46PM UTC

   Have you ever performed an HR Talent Acquisition role? I think you are painting with a broad brush and do not realize all the intricacies of what occurs in this process.

9. AnonymousFebruary 20,2025 at 5:05PM UTC

   Usually the hiring manager would check references of the final 2 or 3 candidates because they would know the areas that would give the hiring manager the most nuanced information. An HR person isn't close enough to the team dynamic nor do they have hands on knowledge of the work. They work in HR. I'm convinced this is why there are so many wrong hires.

10. GirlBossanova934974February 21,2025 at 3:38PM UTC

    I am seeing more and more companies REQUIRE cover letters so unless they enjoy getting worthless scraps of paper, they are reading them! Cover letters are what you make them. They should contain concreate evidence that you have EXPERIENCE in completing the required tasks for the new job. As for references, I think that is a waste of time. WHO is going to ask someone to give them a reference where they know the reference will NOT be good??? RIGGING THE DECK is what it is......So what's the use? This practice belongs with the what are you going to do in 5 year questions aka trained seal Q and A that some interviewers love to waste time with!

11. AnonymousFebruary 22,2025 at 5:07PM UTC

    Cover letters can be as much creative writing as you want without a recommendation letter that confirms it. Ultimately, a recommendation is the best thing because it has to come from someone who appreciates your work and had a good experience working with you.

12. AnonymousFebruary 22,2025 at 3:08PM UTC

    I agree on not reading cover letters. If people are looking to transition to a different career / line of work, then reading the cover letter rather than just the resume will connect the translatable skills. As far as references go, I don’t see the point. People aren’t going to put down a person who’s going to give a bad reference and for an employment reference, such limited information can be given, to me, they don’t offer a great benefit.

13. Taylor PetersFebruary 24,2025 at 1:13PM UTC

    I don't know, my job used to involve calling references over the phone. You'd be shocked.

14. Gisele CloutierFebruary 23,2025 at 2:58PM UTC

    I agree with the person who said HR people (and Recruiters) are really swamped. References are really done primarily for CYA purposes, because references are virtually always positive or they wouldn't be references. As for cover letters, if one is required, do one. But I can tell you that about 50% of Recruiters (like me) don't read them, not first anyway. I look at the resume and if I'm interested, then I look at the cover letter. If it's concise and results-focused, I'm impressed. If it's a long, long regurgitation of what's in the resume, my interest level goes down. Finally, if there's something the employer needs to know, don't limit it to the cover letter, make sure it's quickly visible on your resume too. For instance, writing "open to relocation" next to your city, state, so you don't get ruled out for being outside the company's location.

15. Sophia BurrowesFebruary 26,2025 at 3:23PM UTC

    I agree with a lot of the comments in this thread. However, if HR managers would use ATS in addition to traditional hiring practices, they wouldn't be swamped. I've seen multiple jobs I've applied for back on the job boards because the person they hired - the unicorn on paper - left or was let go. Had someone contacted references or read recommendation letters they would have determined whether the individual would be the best fit for the company.