Three references?!

lukin

I recently applied for a temporary job with a third level college (I'd rather not say which one). On the application form there was a section for referees. There was space for three referees but I only provided two.
When I went for the interview they told me at the end "Oh, you'll have to provide a third referee, it's always three for public sector jobs"
(nowhere on the application form did it say this).
I wasn't able to provide a third one at such short notice so I told them I could only provide the two on the form.
I also applied or a job with Laois County Council recently and was only asked for two referees. I don't think I am going to get the job with the college despite being over-qualified for it. I am fairly pissed about that and I assume they are going to use the fact I only gave two referees as their reason.
Three referees seems a bit much, am I correct in saying they just made that up?

hermit

lukin wrote:

I recently applied for a temporary job with a third level college (I'd rather not say which one). On the application form there was a section for referees. There was space for three referees but I only provided two.
When I went for the interview they told me at the end "Oh, you'll have to provide a third referee, it's always three for public sector jobs"
(nowhere on the application form did it say this).
I wasn't able to provide a third one at such short notice so I told them I could only provide the two on the form.
I also applied or a job with Laois County Council recently and was only asked for two referees. I don't think I am going to get the job with the college despite being over-qualified for it. I am fairly pissed about that and I assume they are going to use the fact I only gave two referees as their reason.
Three referees seems a bit much, am I correct in saying they just made that up?

They can ask for 20 if they like. If you can't fill out the form like it tells you thats your own fault. I had to have four for a recent job application (a public sector job).

The_Conductor

Its pretty standard in the Public Sector to require 3 referees (which could be employers/landlords/Garda who knows you etc etc). Depending on the nature of the job (i.e. working with children/civil service/Gardai/Health Service) you could also expect the prospective employer to seek a Garda report on you, and any criminal convictions would automatically disqualify you (note: civil convictions are not disqualifying).

The county councils do have delegated sanction to conduct their own recruitment (to within sanctioned ceilings for both permanent and contract staff). They may possibly not apply conditions that are quite as stringent as they are elsewhere.

S.

lukin

hermit wrote:

They can ask for 20 if they like. If you can't fill out the form like it tells you thats your own fault. I had to have four for a recent job application (a public sector job).

I would have given three referees if it had said so on the application form but it did not.

Newaglish

lukin wrote:

On the application form there was a section for referees. There was space for three referees but I only provided two.

lukin wrote:

hermit wrote:

They can ask for 20 if they like. If you can't fill out the form like it tells you thats your own fault. I had to have four for a recent job application (a public sector job).

I would have given three referees if it had said so on the application form but it did not.

I would generally fill out all the space there is on the application form anyway!

What's the problem with getting a third referee anyway? Only teenagers looking for their first job should ever have a problem coming up with referees.

nesf

lukin wrote:

I would have given three referees if it had said so on the application form but it did not.

As a general rule of thumb, if there's three spaces for references on your application form, you give them three references. If they didn't want three they'd not have bothered putting there boxes in there.

Just give a character reference or something. I agree with one of the above posters, if you failed to fill out the form correctly it's your own fault not their's. I wouldn't get worked up about it or anything. Just find some non-family member whose word on your character would be trusted. Lecturer, garda etc.