Question for anyone responsible for hiring.

[kimblebee]

When you are deciding to hire someone, how much of your decision is based on their references?


I applied for an Administrative Assistant job in February. I was called in for an interview last week and met with the owner of the company today. I have all the skills needed for the job and he told me the first interviewer had nothing but good things to say about me and that he is a very good and accurate judge of character. We also discussed wages and benefits and that doesn't usually happen unless people are pretty sure. He asked for references and I really have a good vibe about this job.


I have only had one permanent position in my years of working. The rest were all term positions, by choice. Some of my old supervisors are no longer with the company so of course I can't use them. I can't use my last boss (the permanent position) because I filed a Human Rights violation against him and I'm sure he's still miffed about it.

I did provide the name of a coworker from the previous position who I know will say nice things, the director of a daycare where I am on the Board of Directors and also the name of a personal friend who I have known for 14 years. Do you think this will be good enough?

Thanks for reading this far and I look forward to all comments.

 

[tar heel]

I think references always matter, sometimes a lot. Often, they are the last step, so they don't get you the job but can eliminate you from consideration.

I think many employers discuss salary and benefits with all good candidates and would only omit it if they have ruled out the interveiwee.

 

[Ceila]

References can be very important. Typically we never checked references until we were close to offering a candidate a position, since it is very time consuming. I will tell you, though, that not only do HR offices check the references you list, but also previous emloyers.

 

[zigzagzerr]

They matter a lot, particularly if they are not glowing. If your own references don't have nice things to say about you, it doesn't bode well.

 

[kimblebee]

Thanks for your input. I was mostly curious because I was hired for my permanent position without providing a single reference.

On a positive note, he has called one of my references within minutes of me giving him the name. I just spoke to that reference and he said that the potential boss told him that the glowing recommendation will definitely help him make a decision. I have everything that I can cross, crossed.

 

[Ceila]

Good luck!!

 

[kimblebee]

Thank you


I always thought references were kind of a silly way to judge people. Who in their right mind would provide a reference where there was a chance the person would say something negative about you?

 

[zigzagzerr]

Thank you


I always thought references were kind of a silly way to judge people. Who in their right mind would provide a reference where there was a chance the person would say something negative about you?

Exactly right! That's why if a reference is bad, it's a serious red flag!

Seriously, you would be surprised how many people are clueless about what their references are saying about them.

 

[Ceila]

Thank you


I always thought references were kind of a silly way to judge people. Who in their right mind would provide a reference where there was a chance the person would say something negative about you?

Oh, the stories I could tell...

In all seriousness, though, that's why we always tried to contact previous employers if we could. We knew that personal references wouldn't likely give us a full picture. Although sometimes even those personal references were quite, um, honest!

 

[kimblebee]

Ha Ha I'll bet. I am a bit concerned that I don't have more than one previous work reference but I think the reference from the director of the daycare should count for something. I have to be organized and dedicated and able to deal with many different things being the chairperson. I'll keep second guessing myself until I either get a yay or a nay.

 

[kimblebee]

Obviously I picked the right references because I just got offered the job!





This couldn't have come at a better time for me. Things are looking up

 

[Ceila]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Obviously I picked the right references because I just got offered the job!...

Congratulations!