Why the heck can't potential employees ask potential employers for references? (employee, credit report)

[mash potato]

Potential employers certainly check potential employees' stories by calling their past employers. Shouldn't it work both ways? Shouldn't a potential employee check potential employers' stories by calling past employees?

[macroy]

there's really nothing to stop you from asking. It's just whether or not they'll entertain the request. Personally, I've never had a plumber or contractor ask me for a reference to make sure I'm a good customer... But, hey, they're free to ask. Just don't expect me to put them on the top of my list.

[bs13690]

So you want the potential employer to give out contact information for their past employees? They would do just like potential employees do and only give what they know to be good references.

[manderly6]

So ask them.

[Yzette]

There are sites where employees rate employers. I like Glassdoor. Take some of it with a grain of salt, because people are more likely to take action and post if they are fed up with something--it's rare people go around singing the praises of their workplace--but many of the comments are insightful, particularly those about management practices.

[hnsq]

What is stopping you? Call up someone at one of the companies you are interested in and take them out to lunch. People do this all the time, and no one turns down a free lunch.

[D. Scott]

Originally Posted by hnsq

What is stopping you? Call up someone at one of the companies you are interested in and take them out to lunch. People do this all the time, and no one turns down a free lunch.

Yes, It's an informational interview. This OP is correct.

[joe from dayton]

You can also do some on-line searches, ask around to see if you know someone who knows an employee, etc.

[PacificFlights]

If you are being head hunted by them, you have every right to expect that they will provide you with references. If your hunting them, they have every right to expect that you will provide references. So who is doing the hunting?

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by Yzette

There are sites where employees rate employers. I like Glassdoor. Take some of it with a grain of salt, because people are more likely to take action and post if they are fed up with something--it's rare people go around singing the praises of their workplace--but many of the comments are insightful, particularly those about management practices.

I agree. Anyone who doesn't check Glassdoor before applying for a job is not performing due diligence.

Glassdoor – an inside look at jobs & companies

For a fee, you can even get the credit report of a business you may be considering working for or doing business with at Dunn and Bradstreet's site:

D&B