How many "professional references" do employers need?

[jhlcomp]

The standard is 3.

[ontheroad]

I think any future employer will be sensitive to the fact that you are employed and honor not calling your present employer until you give the go-ahead. I certainly would honor it!

Originally Posted by cassy1

If you don't want your company to know that you are looking right now, could you ask that they not be called unless you are going to be offered the job?

[Dingler]

I had a friend who was offered a job based on a successful reference check. His three references from outside the company worked out great. He was given an offer letter and told he could start in two weeks. After his offer letter they called his current supervisor just to finish the process. His current supervisor gave such a poor reference that the job offer at the new company was withdrawn and he was out of luck. A week later he was fired from his current job for lack of commitment. He was fired for looking for a new job.

[ontheroad]

Poor fella, but obviously something went wrong! Right?

Originally Posted by Dingler

I had a friend who was offered a job based on a successful reference check. His three references from outside the company worked out great. He was given an offer letter and told he could start in two weeks. After his offer letter they called his current supervisor just to finish the process. His current supervisor gave such a poor reference that the job offer at the new company was withdrawn and he was out of luck. A week later he was fired from his current job for lack of commitment. He was fired for looking for a new job.

[Rapture]

In past managerial jobs I've had, I always wanted three and I did check them. If they gave me one or two I asked for a third. In my experience people can get one or even two people to lie for them but it's harder to get three. Believe it or not.... many times I've called references and they never even heard of the person that used them for a reference.