References

Have recruiters ever called up your references? And how many references is too many? Whats the average number do you guys give to an employer.

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Danielm7

I've never had my references called. As far as I'm aware the typical number of references is three. Is it an outside recruiter? If so I probably wouldn't even give them my references, just the hiring company, I've heard lots of people say shady recruiters call them to try to sell them on their services.

DoubleNNs

I've had my references called even prior to getting an interview.
I have no idea how often they get called -- the recruiter usually doesn't tell me. And my references don't call me to tell me they've been contacted.

Priston

I've had one company call my references. I've got a document that has 4 references, once I find a fifth to add to the list I'll keep my list at 5. Most of the time they only want 3 references so I only give them 3.

UncleB

I've had mine checked many times when changing jobs over the year.

The trick is to stick to the line that references will be given on a conditional job offer otherwise the agencies just got a list of IT managers to phone up to try to do business with them.

If you have any issue with the managers you worked with use the HR dept as the contact for a reference. They typically just want to check you were not sacked.

thanks
Iain

Mooseboost

I always provide them, but so far none of them have been checked as far as I know.

636-555-3226

Here our recruiters or HR typically call references to verify some info. In my experience it's not very beneficial as any reference you provide will typically glorify your awesomeness. I don't put a lot of weight into them, but it's a standard requirement here due to business processes regardless of what I think.

bryanthetechie

UncleB wrote: »

The trick is to stick to the line that references will be given on a conditional job offer otherwise the agencies just got a list of IT managers to phone up to try to do business with them.

Yep, this is what I tell them as well. I generally find that once I saw this then they stop asking, even the hiring companies don't follow up with actually calling. It's a shame, too... I have some great folks ready to sing my praises

cyberguypr

When required, I provide 3 references. Some of them have been contacted, not others.

I think exactly as 636-555-3226. This is a somewhat futile exercise as I've never heard of a reference saying anything bad about a candidate. It's more like:

"Yes, I worked with $candidate X years ago at $oldjob. He is (insert adjective here) and extremely (another adjective). We worked together in $project and it was a great success. His contribution included $responsibilities. After he left us we cried and weep and it has never been the same. It was a big loss. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for $position."

techfiend

I'll never give recruiters references again, almost lost my last job twice because recruiters, from big companies, called my manager even after I asked them not to. Recruiters seem to always ask for them if you are close to interviewing. Companies on the other hand rarely ask for them but I have it prepared if they do and always take a few copies to interviews.

Fayz

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Helps a lot.

Fayz

Danielm7 wrote: »

I've never had my references called. As far as I'm aware the typical number of references is three. Is it an outside recruiter? If so I probably wouldn't even give them my references, just the hiring company, I've heard lots of people say shady recruiters call them to try to sell them on their services.

Yeah had an interview with an outside recruiter for a university and he wanted 3 references but I have not sent him any. I just had a weird feeling if the interview would even go to the next step which is interviewing with the IT manager at the university.

thomas_

I asked my buddy recently if anybody ever contacted him. He mentioned that one person did try to contact him. I tend to agree with the whole not providing references unless its going somewhere. I don't like to toss other people's PII around. I actually didn't apply to a couple of jobs because it required me to list some references in the online application.

John1992

Strange I always thought they do call references.