Job references are an important part of the hiring process, but many job seekers don’t realize they need to check their own. They assume that:
- Only the references they list will be contacted.
- If a former employer is contacted, inquiries will simply be redirected to Human Resources.
- Human Resources will only confirm employment dates and title, as company policy.
All of these assumptions are frequently mistaken. Here are five reasons every job seeker needs to check their own references.
1. The company’s comment policy may not be what you think it is.
Many job seekers assume their former employers won’t say anything negative about them, but that isn’t always the case. A number of companies have relaxed their comment policies in recent years, which means former employers are free to give more detailed feedback about former employees. Countless clients of reference checking firm Allison & Taylor confidently assert, “They won’t tell you anything, it’s against policy.”
2. Your reference may not be saying what you expect.
Even if a former employer is willing to give a positive reference, make sure they’re actually saying what you expect. A lukewarm reference can be just as damaging as a negative one, so confirm your references are as supportive as you need them to be.
3. Your information may not match the HR records.
Make sure your employment information is accurate, including your dates, job title and supervisor. Any discrepancy between your resume and HR records can raise red flags with potential employers.
4. Your record may be missing from the HR records entirely.
This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a merger or reorganization. If your record is missing, potential employers may have a hard time verifying your employment history.
5. Your reference contact may no longer work for the company.
Make sure your reference contact is still with the company. If they’ve left, a reference checker may be shuffled through the system and end up with someone who doesn’t know you, or who won’t cast you in a positive light.
Conclusion
By checking your own employment references, you can avoid surprises down the road. It’s an important step in the job search, and one every job seeker should take.
Tips for checking your own employment references
- Ask your former employers for permission to contact them.
- Give them a list of the questions you’d like them to answer.
- Follow up to make sure they’ve responded to your request.
If your references aren’t as supportive as you need
- Talk to your references and see whether there’s anything you can do to improve their feedback.
- Consider a professional reference-checking firm to get more accurate feedback.
- Send a Cease & Desist letter to any former employer giving negative or inaccurate feedback.
By taking these steps, you can make sure your employment references are as helpful as possible in your job search.