Great Experiences but not enough references

baseball1988

Here is my work history:

1) Year 2006 Worked for 4 months at a company (summer student job)

2) Year 2009 Worked for 4 months at another company (contract)

3) Year 2010-present Worked for 1.5 years at current job (full time)

I'm looking for a new job while I am employed. I can't use 3) for references because people here can't keep their mouth shut. I have a manager who is willing to be my reference from 2) and willing to take calls from employers in addition have a reference letter to back it up. And 1) has been more than 4-5 years ago and I am reluctant to ask due to the fact that it's been years and I haven't been in touch with them at all. Also, I didn't do anything spectacular from 1). Basically, I have 1 reference in total right now. I tried to ask a colleague from 2) but she only provided only her work e-mail address and doesn't feel comfortable doing it over the phone. She made the excuse that she will be out of the office or not at the desk too often.

If I provide references to a potential employer, do you think I should include that colleague into my references? she is only able to answer e-mails...Then that would make it 2 references....Please note that I won't be able to use professors since I was an average student and they don't know me at the personal level. Is 1 reference too little? Advice? I know employers these days want to speak to a LIVE person...

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Comments

pham0329

um...are they asking for references or are you volunteering them? I've never had an employer ask for a reference.

On a side note, what's the point of references? Who would be dumb enough to provide contact information for someone who's going to bad mouth them...

baseball1988

It's the standard HR process these days to supply at least 2 references. I'm sure you understand what I mean.

They usually ask for references if a candidate is successful after having multiple interviews. I'm just preparing a list of references in advance...

pham0329

baseball1988 wrote: »

It's the standard HR process these days to supply at least 2 references. I'm sure you understand what I mean.

No, I don't. Like I said, aside from the fast food job I had when I was 16, I've never had a job that asked for references. There's no point in worrying about references unless they're asking for them, at which point, you can worry about it then.

ptilsen

I have only once, out of three full-time jobs and a dozen or so contracts, actually had an employer request and contact professional references. I gave them a former manager I was on good terms with and a former instructor from college. I've never considered giving a co-worker to whom I was not a direct report as a reference, but I've really never needed references. I guess if I had to, a colleague would not be such a bad reference, but not one who is clearly evasive of giving the reference.

Put more bluntly, you really shouldn't worry about your references. For every job that wants them, there are nine that will hire you without even thinking about references. Maybe NY is very different from MN in this regard, but I honestly can't even imagine being asked for references. I don't ask candidates for references, either.

ptilsen

baseball1988 wrote: »

It's the standard HR process these days to supply at least 2 references. I'm sure you understand what I mean..

I'm with pham, and maybe it's a Minnesota thing. Most employers aren't even interested in my work experience, much less my references. The resume gets you the interview, and your skill at interviews gets you the job.

The one company that did need references was a fortune 500 and I was on a 5-week contract. They were involved in the financial industry (that's all I'll say) and required a background check. They didn't even want professional references; they were only interested in references to confirm my identity.

SouthSeaPirate

Another here that has never been asked for references. And I had to get a state gaming license at my current position. I'd be more worried about credit history than references. However, I think you are doing right by working it out ahead of time. I wouldn't worry too much on it, but I still would have it together just in case. I'm with pham0329 on this; 'not one who is clearly evasive of giving the reference.' I think this person is missing the point of a reference. So, no. That would not suffice for said list.

ChooseLife

I'm with baseball, I haven't had a job that _did not_ ask for references, and it's usually either the last step before making an offer, or runs in parallel with offer negotiation

apr911

The only jobs Ive had that have asked for references have been part-time or short term (<4-6 months) but I have not been asked for references for any full-time job over 3 months up to and including an indefinite period of time.

The part-time jobs often wanted more personal than professional references. Id assume they want to make sure you're reliable since they are only hiring you part time.

The short-term jobs asked for more professional than personal references. Id assume this is because if they only need you for a short period of time, they probably have some project, contract or other reason and wouldnt have the time to search for, interview, hire and get up to speed a replacement if you dont have the skills they need.

None of my long-term, full-time jobs have asked for personal or professional references. Id assume this is because of the flexibility they have as a long term employer. If you prove unreliable or unskilled, they can let you go and search for your replacement without too much issue and they wont find themselves in too bad of a bind.