References

[kodaka]

Originally Posted by reinvent01

More and more references are not being contacted. Employers want them, but it's more of a formality and hold over from long ago. Anymore, they run a BG check on you and call it a day. More and more, companies are hiring 3rd party companies to run checks on you because it protects the employer. If you have a clean BG and your resume looks promising, you will get a call.

I agree. It isn't that 'more and more' employers are asking for character references. The section for character references has been standard on boilerplate job applications since the 1980s at least. The need for job applicants to have arranged character references from among their professional peers is equally as old. Its standard working-world advice that you should have and maintain current relationships with individuals who agree to provide positive references on your behalf, and that are not former employers or relatives.

[DrEarth]

Originally Posted by longtimesub

One time, I sent in a resume to a temp agency. It was for a part-time job working at some booth at a shopping mall.

The agency emailed me back, stating that I needed to submit SIX references...By the way, it did not want me to use a friend as a reference...

I thought that six was too many...I did not follow up with that job...

That's crazy! Who in their right mind would give a temp agency 6 references for a mall job??

I saw a few jobs that wanted 3 personal references and 3 professional references. The jobs were entry-level jobs that required a degree, but not much experience.

I lost one reference by submitting the name to an automated system online, and when they don't fill it out, an automatic email is sent every four days. It turned out that he was sent about 8 emails, before I found out about it.

Now, I am more careful when submitting references.

As for the OP, if you don't have the references, put down family or friends with a different last name than yours. If you leave it blank, you won't be contacted. If you fill in something, you will have a chance.

[D. Scott]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

It looks good on paper to check employee's references, however it is really pointless. Anyone can find someone to give them a good reference or can easily fake it. Also almost no supervisor will risk divulging negative information as they can get sued. Most companies will only give title and dates of employment.

This is very true. But what about a letter of reference from a former employer? This usually is a good thing to have.

[MSchemist80]

Be very careful about giving references to temp agencies. They will send the managers especially to to sales dept and generally harass them.

It is really rediculous that temp agencies are demanding references. It used to be the people who took temp jobs didn't have good references and were using the temp job to get some. The whole idea of temp is that is they don't work out you dump them easily.