Reference Checks?

Reactor

How much detail do companies usually go into when they're checking references? As in will they just call up and ask if you worked there at the imes stated or will it be a big interview of your previous supervisor about you?

Eoin

It varies a lot.

Reactor wrote:

As in will they just call up and ask if you worked there at the imes stated

Many companies do not like to give subjective references about previous employers so might only give the period of service and job title.

They might not allow the manager to give a reference, and the HR department might only give the these details. I don't know if they would be able to disclose any disciplinary records - while they're a matter of fact, I don't know whether or not the Data Protection Act would allow these to be disclosed.

Reactor wrote:

or will it be a big interview of your previous supervisor about you?

If they do get through to the person's manager, then a very common question to ask is "would you employ this person again?" - that's can give a good indication of how the employee was viewed, while still not leaving the referee's company open to any legal action for giving a bad reference that can't be backed up.

They might also want to check that you did indeed carry out the duties that you said you did - and again, that should be pretty safe for the ex-employer to disclose.

And maybe they'll get through to someone who has no problems going into lots of detail, in which case it could indeed end up as a pretty thorough conversation.

Reactor

They might also want to check that you did indeed carry out the duties that you said you did - and again, that should be pretty safe for the ex-employer to disclose.

Thats the bit Im worried about, I did an interview the other day and ended up constructing a bit of a web of lies for the whole hour, ah well we'll see how it goes, it wont be my first rejection if the whole house of cards comes crashing down :P

Eoin

Could your referee back you up, or was it complete BS?

Reactor

I think they will for the most part, Im banking on the fact that they were never there while I was doing the work placement, they were always in meetings or out of the office so they mighnt know what I did, it was just an 8 week temp thing you see but the interviewers were interested in it because it was a combination of lab and office work like the job I was going for, I also used it as an answer to several of the "Name a time when you showed..." questions, all of which the answers were complete bullsh1t (everyone lies about those though no?).

Reactor

Christ there were some things and duties I blurted out that were way over the top though, reporting to the companies HQ in Massachusetts and that kind of thing, Im 4ucked if they go into much detail, my mouth was just running away with me in there, which is strange because I usually run out of things to say in an interview after about 15 minutes, I was soaked in sweat afterwards :P

Eoin

Uh oh, the flashbacks are starting? I hate the post-interview autopsy!

Have they asked for your reference details yet, or do they already have them? If so I would get in contact with them first and tell them what you said in the interview so they can back you up - but make sure you don't burn any bridges with them.

seamus

They will probably not go into detailed specifics.

They will most likely attempt to confirm the dates that you worked there and your role. If the person giving the reference is open to it, they may also ask a simple question like, "Did it involve a mix of lab and office work?".

They won't ask specifics like, "Was he involved in such-and-such a project and did such-and-such an incident ever occur?". They will not ask whether you reported to HQ.

Some managers will run away with it and yap on and on about you, others will toe the company line, confirm that you worked there, what you did in general and that you did a good job and leave it at that.

Eoin

seamus wrote: »

They won't ask specifics like, "Was he involved in such-and-such a project and did such-and-such an incident ever occur?". They will not ask whether you reported to HQ.

I don't think you can say that for definite.

Any person worth their salt who is looking for a reference will try and get as much info and background as the referee will give. The last two people who checked my references were talking to them for at least 15 minutes each time, and it did go into some detail. I think you'd be mad not to check out as thoroughly as possible what a candidate claimed during their interview.

Reactor

Yeah the references have already gone in, Im only worried about this one because the recruiter got back to me and said they really liked me, good personality and very confident technically, I have never had feedback like that from an interview in my life.

@ seamus, thats reassuring, thanks.

We'll see how it goes anyway, I have one more meeting next week about it.

seraphimvc

good luck to you man!:D

last time the interviewer asked me for references after the f2f interview (i really thought i nailed it that time) but apparently they didnt even call my references i too was worried about the 'lies' i said, which i decided i am going to do less if i get a f2f interview again.

HavingCrack

A huge amount of employers won't check up on references, remember they doctor who was disbarred from practice in the UK who got a job here or the professor who faked his qualifications :rolleyes:. I'd say its around 50-50 whether they even check at all.

Mrs OBumble

Reactor wrote: »

I also used it as an answer to several of the "Name a time when you showed..." questions, all of which the answers were complete bullsh1t (everyone lies about those though no?).

Ahh, no.

Slight embelishments, perhaps.

Outright lies, not on your life. Way, way to likely to get caught out.

3DataModem

Most industries are far to small for lies not to catch up eventually.

Also, if they find out at any stage that you lied about ANYTHING during recruitment process they can summarily dismiss you without warning or notice.

However you are talking about a trivial placement. They will know in a week or two if you are not up for the job.

mohawk

I was talking to the people that gave me references for the job I start Monday.
They asked about the terms I left under, did I get on well with everyone?, was I a team player? my job title, etc
I embellish or smudge details but don't want to lie in cv or interview as I wouldn't like to put a reference under pressure to lie for me.

The interview itself was very technical (was like a chemistry exam) so the reference check didn't check to see if I lied about stuff I did as the interview itself would of caught me out.

Reference checks seem to be much more common these days.

Best of luck reactor!!