Do Employers Check References? Plus Other Top Things You Should Know About Interviewing

[@jgq2881]

This is good information. As an HR manager I read the cover letter as the person's pitch for this specific job, letting me know what in their resume of years of experience applied to this job. So when I was looking for a job, I wrote specific cover letters for each job I applied for. I can't say it got me anywhere.

[@Over50tv]

I did the same thing you did. When I was looking for a job I wrote specific cover letters for each job I applied for. It never seemed to work.

[@DPearls24]

100%, references are ridiculous and old-school artifacts. No one is going to list a person that is going to give a bad reference. Similarly, on LinkedIn, you are not going to post a recommendation that does not show you in the best light. I worked for a company where the HR admins admitted that they do not check references because there just is not enough time in the day. Lastly, on this topic, as you stated, there is a liability. No company or representative of a company is going to give a reference for fear that it will be seen as potential slander and put the company at risk. As to coverletters, as someone who has been a hiring manager, I can confirm that I never hired anyone based on whether or not they submitted a coverletter with their resume. Let's move this process into the 21st century.

[@Over50tv]

Thank you for the comment David. This process hasn’t made sense to me for a long time.

[@chrisdeiuliolicsw39]

I almost never do cover letter's these days. When I do, it's brief and usually for jobs that still ask for "paper" applications sent via snail mail.

[@Over50tv]

Hi Chris! Sounds like sometimes you still use cover letters. When you do please consider using our cover letter. At the very least i’m hoping our cover letter will give you idea or two you can use at some point in your job hunting process.

[@chrisdeiuliolicsw39]

@@Over50tv Not really. I have applied for a lot of jobs in the past few years and have only written one cover letter in application to one job (the one I'm currently in actually). I realise it was a bit redundant really.

[@elemckee1847]

Yes. Company or recruiters do call references. I know this from my previous position in recruiting.

[@Over50tv]

I don’t believe they get very much useful information from those contacts.

[@LSqrd1960]

In my experience as a hiring manager (or member of hiring team), my companies always checked references. And sometimes the references would shoot down a hire. I think that's probably the real point, if you can't rustle up 3 people who think you're a good employee/co-worker, then you're probably not a good employee/co-worker. If you provide a reference hoping that we don't actually call them, you're probably not a good hire.

[@Over50tv]

I think most people can come up with three references of people who will say good things about them. And, that is the point, why contact their fans? Getting an unbiased truthful assessment is very difficult.

[@LSqrd1960]

@@Over50tv Oh I agree with you... I think its just another opportunity for recruiters to have a reason to reject. That said, I've never understood why somebody would provide a reference that they hoped wouldn't be contacted... as I noted, I saw it happen a couple of times.

[@dodsonarmsco]

My experience has been it takes 3 months because they hire and go through 2 or three people that cannot do the work or do not stay before they get to hiring the person that stays.

[@Over50tv]

A consequence of this is current employees frequently find their workload increased until the right person is finally hired.

[@WindmillChef]

Another great video Lou, So, if an HR manager finds it to be a waste of time to read my three paragraph cover letter than that HR manager is looking for a moving and breathing body, they are not looking for the kind of talent that I can bring to the organization. How I came to know about the opening, what about the company and position do I find interesting, to the point that I would consider leaving my current employer for, how specifically I think my talents match up to the company's needs....yes, this should be interesting stuff to the HR chump and it should be worth 2 minutes of reading. People, please have standards for yourself and your worth, a world of HR people are certainly not going to 'just give you' high standards when you don't have any! About the search time line. By all means, if you make it to a phone conversation/interview, a video interview or a personal interview, when it comes to the time in which you can ask questions, ask them when they actually seek to fill the position and when you can expect an answer from them as to the status of the search and if you are still among the considered people, these are completely acceptable, and expected questions. HR departments do post "non existing" job openings for ulterior motives, to stuff their files with 'ready to go' candidates and for data collection purposes, YOUR data, that is. They also contract, so called "search firms" to collect and compile Thousands of resumes. More on that some other time. For this reason, if answers to above questions are in any way sketchy, not precise, concise and quick without hesitation, press further and I outright tell them that I am a professional, my professional time is valuable and that I am sure that they understand that I want that fact respected by them. Which brings me to references. Lou, I cannot express how much it angers me when companies ask for references outright on their standard online application profile thing or in any way far too early in the process. When I ask professional acquaintances and friends if they would serve as a reference for me and they agree, it means that they may start receiving phone calls and emails during their work time from potential employers interested in me, they also know that they are giving me their office number, their cell number and their e-mail, knowing that I will be forwarding this personal info to people whom we both don't know. This kind of stuff is meant for when you are in the last stages and among only 3-5 candidates from which they are going to choose to make a job offer to. Any expectation from a company and an HR outfit to think they have a right to that information at an earlier stage is HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL, HIGHLY INCONSIDERATE and I my opinion in should be, in the corporate vibe, considered contemptable.

[@Over50tv]

My background in marketing inclines me to see value in a cover letter because it offers an opportunity to sell yourself. But when hiring folks are reading dozens or hundreds of resumes for a given position it is unlikely they will be given more than a quick glance. Your point about references being asked for way to early is very well made. I hadn’t considered that point but I am glad you made it. I appreciate your comment. Thank you!

[@DrogoBaggins987]

I've had an interesting experience in the last month. I got interviews with two companies and they both must have had the same training because the interviews were almost identical. Both ended the interview saying that we have some other candidates to interview and we will contact you next week but neither contacted me. When that happens should I walk away or should I contact them? If I contact them how long should I wait?

[@neverlostforwords]

I suggest that you wait ten days and after that, contact them and politely ask when you can expect to hear from them. It won't hurt your chances of getting the job if you contact them.

[@Over50tv]

I wouldn’t wait ten days. Contact them in 5-7 days.

[@Over50tv]

Contact them immediately after the day they promised to let you know their decision.

[@DrogoBaggins987]

@@Over50tv Thank you.

[@arlenaholmes]

Can you do a video on applying for jobs internationally?

[@Over50tv]

I’ll speak with Joric McLean about this topic. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@2Bluzin]

Asking for references is a complete joke. It's the most simplistic nonsensical thinking that an HR manager can do. It's really just to cover their behind when things go south and they can say "oh but his references all checked out". Lets be honest, 99% of the people who get fired were ALL once hired with excellent references. So how good of a system is that? Plus, all it does is reward people who know how to play the game. Not every job requires an "outgoing, charismatic, highly motivated, publicly personable self promoting personality". Some of the best employees I have ever seen are the quite ones who just show up on time every day, do the work, go home and no drama.

[@Over50tv]

It is easier to stay on the same road then to carve a better path. HR will stay on the same road and continue to be susceptible to people, as you say, ‘know how to play the game.’ I agree 100% some of the best employees are the quiet ones who show up every day. Thanks for the comment.

[@grazynawolska8160]

I think the recommendation letter comes from old England. Back in the 1700s or 1800s (maybe earlier) it was a social custom to need to be formally introduced to someone before you could speak. So when you traveled to somewhere new you'd get your friends to write you a letter of introduction or recommendation from someone who knew the other person (this is for nobles and landed gentry of course). You could then be accepted by the new person, given opportunities etc like a place to stay, or a connection. Letters of recommendation were also used in working class. Say you were a housemaid for a family for 10 years and needed to move to be closer to your family. You'd need a letter of recommendation from current employer. No letter, no job. This kept house workers in check because they could spend their whole lives working for an employer and not get a recommendation 😒. I agree it is a very antiquated and outdated process.

[@Not-Ap]

@@grazynawolska8160 Yes but we are not living in the 1890s anymore. Quite the opposite infact...