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I think there is more to your story than your telling. Because you contradict yourself in later posts.
As one poster suggested go on Linkedin(you don't even have to join) and you can see where these people are currently working, even if you didn't keep in contact with them it takes little to no effort to send them an email or call them and explain your situation.
If you left the jobs on good terms and weren't a difficult person there is no reason they wouldn't help you out with a few minutes of their time.
It sounds like a great job and yet you want to make no effort to track down a couple of people? Something doesn't add up. Sounds like there are reasons you're not comfortable contacting these people.
The problem with him contacting them on Linkedin is he needs to get in touch with them right away and those people may not be on Linkedin that often.
The problem with him contacting them on Linkedin is he needs to get in touch with them right away and those people may not be on Linkedin that often.
I didn't say contact them through Linkedin, I said go on Linkedin and track down where they're currently working if they're members of Linkedin, than get their current work phone number and contact them right away.
Put their names in and see if they're listed. It takes a few seconds and it could be to the benefit of the OP, I agree they can't wait to hear back through Linkedin, but use it as a tool to get current info.
If the OP left on good terms there shouldn't be a problem to get someone to be a work reference.
I didn't say contact them through Linkedin, I said go on Linkedin and track down where they're currently working if they're members of Linkedin, than get their current work phone number and contact them right away.
Put their names in and see if they're listed. It takes a few seconds and it could be to the benefit of the OP, I agree they can't wait to hear back through Linkedin, but use it as a tool to get current info.
If the OP left on good terms there shouldn't be a problem to get someone to be a work reference.
You cannot see the email or contact phone number for people on linkedin if they are not one of your connections
This has happened to me. For one I gave them the number of HR to verify my employment dates and told them since the PI has moved and I cannot locate her (but I had a letter of recommendation she graciously wrote for me). And then the second company I told them I had tried really hard to get a reference BUT the company is super secretive (private) and that they will not respond to my emails asking for a phone number! I had only worked the job for like 3 months anyways (to put food on the table) and left that job for my next job (which over 3 years had passed since then) so I wish I could but I couldn't.
BTW that job made me give them 18 damn references. I told them at that point I didn't know who else to ask and if 18 good references aren't enough I don't know what is!
Companies check your references because you may be competent with your skills, an excellent interview, but a horrible worker.
When they talk to a real person and ask how you are as a worker they will give the hiring manager a more comprehensive answer.
This is exactly the sort of question most former employers will refuse to answer.
They cannot get in trouble for answering truthfully to questions that can be backed up with actual evidence...such as "how long was applicant x employed there?" or "how was applicants attendance record"?
But something subjective like is applicant x a hard worker? Open to interpretation and a potential lawsuit if it harms their application. Most former employers are not going to take on that liability risk for the benefit of some other HR.
This is exactly the sort of question most former employers will refuse to answer.
They cannot get in trouble for answering truthfully to questions that can be backed up with actual evidence...such as "how long was applicant x employed there?" or "how was applicants attendance record"?
But something subjective like is applicant x a hard worker? Open to interpretation and a potential lawsuit if it harms their application. Most former employers are not going to take on that liability risk for the benefit of some other HR.
Not true.
If I call and ask "In your opinion, is so and so a hard worker?" if the person says "no, they were not" the company is covered and there is no lawsuit. I asked for an opinion. So, unless the applicant is in possession of a recent glowingly positive review by the person I talked to, there is no lawsuit. There has to be PROOF that not only was the reference not truthful, but that their opinion was motivated in a desire to make sure that the person did not get a new job.
You're right. There is SO much misinformation bandied around as "fact" where what a previous employer can say to a prospective new employer is concerned. Drives me nuts. Oops, better have my coffee!!
You're right. There is SO much misinformation bandied around as "fact" where what a previous employer can say to a prospective new employer is concerned. Drives me nuts. Oops, better have my coffee!!
Yup! I learned on this board I was incorrect about what HR could and could not say
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