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Companies usually have hundreds of applicants for every position. You need a job and they have a bunch of candidates from whom to choose. What on earth sort of "references" do you think they should be giving you? If you land an interview you can ask some questions during that process. There's no contradiction.
So HR gatekeepers, what are we supposed to do now? This is your world and it's getting harder to work in it.
Why the contradiction?
Any suggestions to getting around it?
Because I hear it a lot these days. And they always cite "company policy". Really? Or just a cop out from giving me a reference?
What sort of references are you looking for from a potential employer?
You are the one who needs the job and at this point you need them way more than they need you.
I cannot imagine asking a potential employer for references in regards to their company or any of their employees just to appease a potential employee who I'm sure just made themselves a "definitely do not hire" interviewee.
He is saying that companies - almost universally - have decided that they will not GIVE references for former employees. Yet at the same time they require that new employees HAVE references.
They are causing a problem that only they can fix. Your only hope for getting a reference from a former employer is that a manager liked you well enough that they are willing to violate company policy and give you the requested reference.
I flat out tell head-hunters that I will provide NO references from former managers and if that is not good enough, then too bad. But I have always been fortunate enough to have a skill set that is in high demand and I can get away with that.
He is saying that companies - almost universally - have decided that they will not GIVE references for former employees. Yet at the same time they require that new employees HAVE references.
They are causing a problem that only they can fix. Your only hope for getting a reference from a former employer is that a manager liked you well enough that they are willing to violate company policy and give you the requested reference.
I flat out tell head-hunters that I will provide NO references from former managers and if that is not good enough, then too bad. But I have always been fortunate enough to have a skill set that is in high demand and I can get away with that.
The original statement makes sense now, thank you for the clarification.
So HR gatekeepers, what are we supposed to do now? This is your world and it's getting harder to work in it.
Why the contradiction?
Any suggestions to getting around it?
Because I hear it a lot these days. And they always cite "company policy". Really? Or just a cop out from giving me a reference?
You should be able to get references from co-workers and those in higher positions you've worked with. They aren't being flooded with those kind of requests and often ignore company policy.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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When we ask for professional references, we don't mean from HR. We are looking for people that are familiar with the person's work. This could be previous supervisors, co-workers, customers, suppliers, or contractors. When I applied for the position I have now, I was able to use someone I worked with 16 years before, a recent former customer, and the general manager at a place I had worked who is now a local CEO.
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