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Ok, I think I made a mistake. I applied for an out of state job and they are now checking references. I have one reference that I worked with and bloomed into a friendship. I am pretty sure I was careful enough to remove her from my reference list because she would flip out if she knew I was leaving (I plan on telling her, just not yet). I am on vacation and away from my PC to view that reference list. Should I contact HR and ask them not to contact this person or just let it slide? What does a reference check entail? "Is so and so a good employee?" I am just nervous..
Ok, I think I made a mistake. I applied for an out of state job and they are now checking references. I have one reference that I worked with and bloomed into a friendship. I am pretty sure I was careful enough to remove her from my reference list because she would flip out if she knew I was leaving (I plan on telling her, just not yet). I am on vacation and away from my PC to view that reference list. Should I contact HR and ask them not to contact this person or just let it slide? What does a reference check entail? "Is so and so a good employee?" I am just nervous..
Let it slide! A reference check could be as little as asking for dates of employment and if the person is re-hirable. Or it can be more extensive with questions such as "Why did he/she leave?" "How long have you known him/her." "What were his/her weaknesses and strengths" "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate (customer service skills, dependability, professionalism, etc).
Ok. I am just worried because she feels that I am going to settle and retire in the city we both live in. She would be caught very much off guard if she got a call!
Why don't you call her and tell her there may be a reference call? Don't call the company you are trying to hire on with and tell them. That's crazy. Either let it slide or tell your friend in advance.
Ok. I am just worried because she feels that I am going to settle and retire in the city we both live in. She would be caught very much off guard if she got a call!
This is why references are supposed to be notified ahead of time so they WON"T be caught off guard.
I think you should tell her she might be called. Everyone I use as a reference knows I'm using them so they won't be surprised if they receive a call asking about me. Plus I think you should have someone's permission to use them as a reference.
it sounds like the OP might have this person's permission to be used as a reference, but they've only used her for local job applications before.
i'm also not clear on whether they know that this reference was definitely given for this particular job or not - "I am pretty sure I was careful enough to remove her from my reference list"
OP, you're kind of stuck here - either your friend hears it from you or she hears it from the prospective employer. or you luck out and it turns out you did remember to remove her from the list. asking them not to contact her if you did give her as a reference is not going to make you look good. neither is calling them and asking if you gave someone as a reference when it turns out you didn't. both make you stand out in a bad way.
if you're looking out of town, you're going to have to tell her some time. if i were you, i'd just do it now.
You can tell your friend you're just putting out feelers, seeing what the job market is like now, etc, but that she might get a call because you used her as a reference.
Let it slide! A reference check could be as little as asking for dates of employment and if the person is re-hirable. Or it can be more extensive with questions such as "Why did he/she leave?" "How long have you known him/her." "What were his/her weaknesses and strengths" "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate (customer service skills, dependability, professionalism, etc).
Most of those questions are not technically legal, particularly if it is a previous boss for a reference. However it is hard to prove that it was the reason you lost out on the job. It's a bad catch-22 in this case. You didn't get the job due to illegal practices but you can't exactly prove it because it is your word vs. the hiring manager's.
Do not involve the potential employer in this petty thing! If I got a call like that I wouldn't hire you no matter what your qualifications
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