Comments on: How to deal with reference checks http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:17:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Assech Omega http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-248486 Assech Omega Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:48:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-248486 <a href="http://www.chineseenergetics.com" rel="nofollow"> Energy Psychology </a> this is really cool!
Energy Psychology

this is really cool!

]]> By: Carl Junes http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-227804 Carl Junes Thu, 13 May 2010 14:52:13 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-227804 It all depends. Sometimes they ask reference checks and sometimes not, but if they were really big companies, I really think they will check your references. Reference checks are really important. It all depends. Sometimes they ask reference checks and sometimes not, but if they were really big companies, I really think they will check your references. Reference checks are really important.

]]> By: Steve http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-227469 Steve Thu, 06 May 2010 18:16:15 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-227469 With social media references are passe' unless it is the federal, state or local government or those positions working with the public. so forgetaboutit. With social media references are passe' unless it is the federal, state or local government or those positions working with the public. so forgetaboutit.

]]> By: William Mitchell, CPRW http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-216123 William Mitchell, CPRW Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:47:36 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-216123 Not sure how to dodge companies that perform references. They all ask for them, although not all follow through. Not sure how to dodge companies that perform references. They all ask for them, although not all follow through.

]]> By: Paul Tonkin http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-188287 Paul Tonkin Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:21:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-188287 You could have saved yourself time by just having the one line: "Don't work for a person who relies on reference checks. They’re lame." You could have saved yourself time by just having the one line:
"Don't work for a person who relies on reference checks. They’re lame."

]]> By: Sr. HR Guy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-188266 Sr. HR Guy Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:06:22 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-188266 Love your blog Penelope and usually agree with them all but I'm afraid that this time it's my opinion that you missed the target. I've been performing reference checks for years and the only reason that a person would use a true 'ringer' is if they have something to hide and if they are using a ringer, they're a liar and lack the type of character of the people you should associate with, let alone hire. Nonetheless, I never expect to receive negative feedback from reference actually listed on applications. Who would list the name of someone who hated them or their work? That's where the skill of performing reference checks come in; getting to the truth, whether it's good or bad. I've had applicants tell me that trying to get a job at our company is like trying to get a job at the CIA and frankly, that's the way it should be if you're gambling the success of your company (and your livelihood) on the people you hire... which is everyone; from warehouse worker to CFO. Two applicants/reference checks stick out in my mind: something didn't ring true so I dug and dug and dug. It turns out that one applicant had a criminal history of abusing women and the second had a nasty habit of exposing himself to girls, which they both finally confirmed. Digging into their references and beyond paid off for us. The laws of HR are changing and I always remind the references and previous employers that if they don't tell me about something violent or criminal, that they can be held liable for negligence via omission if we hire the person and they become a repeat offender. In regards to (social) networking, I love it! Get out there and network because as an employer I make certain to check all of the social networking sites and if you think that information is private, then you're using the wrong search tools. I love interviewing someone who tells me they have no problem with early AM shifts and then find out they usually spend their nights clubbing and they've made a comment on their Facebook page which shows how they hate, hate, HATE to get up before 9AM. Keep up the great work Penelope, I have to say that 99.9% of your blogs are laser-pointer perfect. Love your blog Penelope and usually agree with them all but I'm afraid that this time it's my opinion that you missed the target. I've been performing reference checks for years and the only reason that a person would use a true 'ringer' is if they have something to hide and if they are using a ringer, they're a liar and lack the type of character of the people you should associate with, let alone hire.

Nonetheless, I never expect to receive negative feedback from reference actually listed on applications. Who would list the name of someone who hated them or their work? That's where the skill of performing reference checks come in; getting to the truth, whether it's good or bad. I've had applicants tell me that trying to get a job at our company is like trying to get a job at the CIA and frankly, that's the way it should be if you're gambling the success of your company (and your livelihood) on the people you hire… which is everyone; from warehouse worker to CFO.

Two applicants/reference checks stick out in my mind: something didn't ring true so I dug and dug and dug. It turns out that one applicant had a criminal history of abusing women and the second had a nasty habit of exposing himself to girls, which they both finally confirmed. Digging into their references and beyond paid off for us. The laws of HR are changing and I always remind the references and previous employers that if they don't tell me about something violent or criminal, that they can be held liable for negligence via omission if we hire the person and they become a repeat offender.

In regards to (social) networking, I love it! Get out there and network because as an employer I make certain to check all of the social networking sites and if you think that information is private, then you're using the wrong search tools. I love interviewing someone who tells me they have no problem with early AM shifts and then find out they usually spend their nights clubbing and they've made a comment on their Facebook page which shows how they hate, hate, HATE to get up before 9AM.

Keep up the great work Penelope, I have to say that 99.9% of your blogs are laser-pointer perfect.

]]> By: Nike Lebron VI http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-187124 Nike Lebron VI Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:54:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-187124 hate giving references. I'm 24 and don't exactly have an overwhelming number of great ones (or really any that could augment me in a professional manner). hate giving references. I'm 24 and don't exactly have an overwhelming number of great ones (or really any that could augment me in a professional manner).

]]> By: thatgirlinnewyork http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-185336 thatgirlinnewyork Fri, 08 May 2009 15:00:05 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-185336 perhaps references are being falling victim to the (ugly, in my opinion) preference for background and credit checks now being widely used. as middle management in marketing, i have seen a huge increase in this, and it makes me uneasy. too many entities have access to our credit information, as it is. it is shoddy and paranoia-inducing--and who says it stands as a good litmus for employment? would love everyone's thoughts on this practice. i'm with nadia--"lame" is an apt word, and more widely used to describe injured dogs. using it in this context doesn't diminish anyone. perhaps references are being falling victim to the (ugly, in my opinion) preference for background and credit checks now being widely used. as middle management in marketing, i have seen a huge increase in this, and it makes me uneasy. too many entities have access to our credit information, as it is. it is shoddy and paranoia-inducing–and who says it stands as a good litmus for employment?

would love everyone's thoughts on this practice.

i'm with nadia–"lame" is an apt word, and more widely used to describe injured dogs. using it in this context doesn't diminish anyone.

]]> By: ResumePro | How to deal with reference checks http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-185332 ResumePro | How to deal with reference checks Fri, 08 May 2009 13:42:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-185332 [...] Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist by Penelope [...] [...] Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist by Penelope [...]

]]> By: Traveler http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/28/how-to-deal-with-reference-checks/comment-page-1/#comment-185308 Traveler Fri, 08 May 2009 03:23:06 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=2475#comment-185308 Whether you like it or not, reference checks DO HAPPEN, all major corporations do them, I know from my background in HR. A better bet than pretending they don't matter is to make sure yours are good- have a reference checking service like allisontaylor.com or reference-check.com find out what people are really saying about you. A bad reference CAN and DOES cost people jobs every day. Whether you like it or not, reference checks DO HAPPEN, all major corporations do them, I know from my background in HR. A better bet than pretending they don't matter is to make sure yours are good- have a reference checking service like allisontaylor.com or reference-check.com find out what people are really saying about you. A bad reference CAN and DOES cost people jobs every day.

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