Has anyone else has problems getting references?

13 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 30,2024 at 2:50PM UTC

   When it comes to employment verification, it's normal that your previous employers/managers may only be allowed to verify that you worked at said place. It's not unusual to get that sort of response (especially since this is the public sector).

   It sounds like you're looking for professional references that can speak to more of your character or what's it like working with you, are you still in contact with any previous colleagues that would be willing to speak to your work ethic?

   If not, you can also suggest offering up personal references too -- anyone that's close to you, maybe volunteered with, a mentor/sponsor/advisor, etc. that can speak to your character as a person.

   Hope this insight helps!

2. AnonymousApril 30,2024 at 3:06PM UTC

   Reach out to your network, and school contacts (professors/teachers, other students) who know you and can (at a minimum) give you a good character reference. I have a couple of former bosses willing to be a good reference that I use. There is also one who worked for me and was promoted to my position after I left.

3. AnonymousApril 30,2024 at 3:42PM UTC

   All about legal issues, it's also a very different culture in that respect too. You can't make any company give the information that you feel you need to get a new offer. Unless it's an executive level or HR sanctioned question form to follow this is where you're at.

4. AnonymousApril 30,2024 at 4:51PM UTC

   The litigiousness of the workplace is tainting the reference process. I would ask those folks to write a letter to you about your work experience with them. Anything else may be tough to get.

5. Tami L CannizzaroApril 30,2024 at 6:34PM UTC

   Hi - at companies I've worked for, we could not provided references for those leaving the company. HR would confirm employment with recruiters/hiring managers, that was it. Once the person had moved on to a company, and was now leaving that company to interview again somewhere else, it was OK for us to give references. In other words, the person was "one company removed" from ours. As you move from company to company you will build a longer list of work references. OR if there's a former colleague who no longer works at the company, reach out to them.

6. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdMay 1,2024 at 12:52PM UTC

   Hi!

   For most states I'm aware of, the only legal obligation a company has to report is that a person worked for them and the dates of employment. That's it. And typically, this is done by HR.

   You nailed the reason why - legal ramifications.

   Let's say a person doesn't get hired at a job. They find out it's because someone at their former company gave a bad review. If the review was honest, but still not favorable, that's one thing. However, if the review wasn't honest and unfavorable - the person giving that review could be up for a lawsuit, possibly defamation of character or something.

   This protects the potential employee as well. There could possibly be someone at their prior company, who didn't like them for some reason or another, and would give a false reference.

   You can always ask if supervisors or coworkers will give character references . You'll want to pick people whom you've worked with closely.

7. Alicia PiconeMay 1,2024 at 3:55PM UTC

   I have asked previous coworkers/supervisors if I could list their names as professional references. But they are not speaking on behalf of the employer, they are speaking on behalf of themselves. Similar to a letter of recommendation.

   In an official capacity, we verify dates of employment and position only I believe

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 1,2024 at 4:51PM UTC

   None of the last three companies I've worked for asked for references from candidates. It's typically no longer done except maybe at smaller companies.

   We do employment verification - verify company name, title and dates worked. It's usually all done electronically and most employers store that data with a third party company.

9. AnonymousMay 1,2024 at 9:13PM UTC

   Joan, this may be true in the private sector, but I am looking mostly at the government (state and federal) and academic sectors. References are required for most of these positions.

10. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 2,2024 at 12:30AM UTC

    Ah, got it.
    Any volunteer experience you could tap into? Or folks who are no longer at those employers - they may be exempt from those restrictions.

11. AnonymousMay 2,2024 at 12:10PM UTC

    What’s frustrating is that companies that won’t GIVE references still ASK for them. I have used colleagues, or people from volunteer work.

12. AnonymousMay 3,2024 at 1:32PM UTC

    I use coworkers. I had one retired manager willing to write one since she didn't work there anymore.

13. MislynMay 7,2024 at 6:14PM UTC

    Use a coworker I wouldn’t put my boss down on any reference. I used a friend.I could apply for jobs online and use my work email address and reply to references on my bosses account. I knew he wouldn’t leave as good of a reference as me. LOL