Reference check taking aaaages.

April O Neill

Hi all,

I was asked to provide references for a job I'm in line for a week and a half ago. Haven't heard a thing, so emailed one of my referees today to ask if he had been contacted, and he said he hadn't been as of yet! I provided three referees, but he'd be my main guy as he's my former boss so I'd expect him to be top of the list. Any ideas why it might take so long. I know the HR person will be out of office from the 16th to tomorrow, but that's still a whole week after I provided the referees.

Thanks!

Eoin

Did you get a firm job offer pending a reference check?

April O Neill

Eoin wrote: »

Did you get a firm job offer pending a reference check?

Yes. I was placed on a panel for an interview earlier this year. You're ranked and offered jobs as they come up if the candidates ahead of you are eliminated for whatever reason. If I pass the reference check and medical, the job is mine.

Eoin

Ah right, could just be a lack of urgency on their behalf and they'll sort it shortly. These things always feel like they're taking twice as long for the candidate as they do for the employer! It sounds like quite a formal process in this place, but it's generally a very quick process to do the reference check, so maybe that's why they're not rushing it.

April O Neill

Eoin wrote: »

Ah right, could just be a lack of urgency on their behalf and they'll sort it shortly. These things always feel like they're taking twice as long for the candidate as they do for the employer! It sounds like quite a formal process in this place, but it's generally a very quick process to do the reference check, so maybe that's why they're not rushing it.

I'm starting a postgrad in September but it's easily deferred for a year if I get offered this job and decide to take it for the spondoolies. Guess I'm just impatient to know what I'll be doing in a month's time!

It's summer, so people are probably on annual leave too.

April O Neill

Heard to day that they are in the process of verifying references. One of my referees in on AL apparently.

Eoin

Best of luck!

April O Neill

My nerves are shot with this reference-checking business.

Got a call today saying that the AL person "won't be able to provide a reference" and that they require a different, a recent one. I sincerely hope that the reason she can't provide it was because she's still on hols, cos if not then that ain't good.

My last job didn't end well. (actually, it was pretty much a disaster from the start) I feel into a deep depression this year over work stuff and my last few months there were turbulent as a result. So I am just on edge over this and I'm afraid I'll never get past it.

BUT the reference they have checked is from my boss at the disaster job. I can't figure if it's a good or bad thing that they are looking for another reference. Surely if his was terrible, then they'd not bother looking for another?

They are looking for a recent reference, and with this last reference not being available, I have no more options at my last workplace, so went with one from the job before that which I left in 2010.

Hope it'll do!

April O Neill

The person I provided from the 2010 job, who OKed it, has just left that workplace.

I can feel this opportunity slipping through my fingers...

Gaillimh1976

April O Neill wrote: »

The person I provided from the 2010 job, who OKed it, has just left that workplace.

I can feel this opportunity slipping through my fingers...

Have you any way of contacting them ? Would anyone have a way of getting a mobile number or something.

Just asking because my referee had left the job, but I had his mobile number and he still gave me a reference. (Must have been an OK one too 'cos I got the job )

April O Neill

Gaillimh1976 wrote: »

Have you any way of contacting them ? Would anyone have a way of getting a mobile number or something.

Just asking because my referee had left the job, but I had his mobile number and he still gave me a reference. (Must have been an OK one too 'cos I got the job )

Yep, looking into getting another number for her. I'm surprised though, as I was only talking to her around 3 weeks ago, so she must've been in her notice period then. :eek: Maybe she thought she'd be contacted sooner than she was.

It's frustrating though. But I provided a few more names, so hopefully one of these will come through for me.

April O Neill

Passed the reference check! Got through to the medical stage. So delighted.

April O Neill

Hi,

So I had my medical on Wednesday and got a firm "fit to work" judgement from the doc. But... they forgot to do a crucial blood test (Hep so I'm back in on Monday to get that done. That test should be grand. The turnaround for that though is 7-10 days.

So... I have a college course I was due to do that I need to withdraw from very soon (probably by mid-month) or I could be liable for 60% of the fees and I need to withdraw from a grant application for said course soon too.

I called HR at my potential employers but they were giving nothing away and told me to continue "as is" re: the course. At first I thought that wasn't encouraging but I do understand, as they have to know I'm Hep B-free before they can employ me.

Basically, I'm just wondering would I put through this whole process and then not get offered the job? Anyone have any experience of this?

Diziet

You should be fine. HR cannot advise you to withdraw formthe course before you have a written contract in our hands, or they would be left exposed on that advice. The chance of not getting through now is infinitesimally small.

pow wow

It's unlikely though not impossible that they could decide not to proceed, even at this stage. Do you have any option to withdraw from the course for now and still join it a week or two down the line if the job doesn't pan out? I don't want to be a party pooper but the employer has made no formal commitment to you as yet, although the signs are very positive.

Blue Whale

Have a chat with the course directors, and the people processing the grant.

They might be able to put it all on hold regarding fees etc until you know for sure about the job.

April O Neill

Well, the grant application is fine, I've discovered, as they only pay that out once you're registered, and I don't even know if I'm getting that yet.

Test is on Monday... 7-10 days turn around... registration is from 11th-20th Sept...

That's cutting it close, and I'm assuming those 7-10 days are working days too.

I'm not withdrawing from my course until I get a job offer, that would just be stoopid. AArrrgh, I'm stressed!

April O Neill

Rang the medical practice just there to ask whether it's 7-10 working or calendar days. She said the turnaround time for Hep B these days is usually 5 days. If that's the case, I should be grand, and still be within all deadlines. Fingers crossed!

April O Neill

Didn't get the job.

Am utterly gutted (and not a little angry). Why did they put me through two medicals (that I passed) if my references weren't up to muster?

April O Neill

Got a call back from them there. Basically they do the ref check and medical concurrently. The medical doesn't happen after the ref check. So I didn't pass one - guess which? :)

I did gave them "feedback" of sorts too. (in a calm, nice way I might add)

I told them that they really shouldn't send people for medical until they have passed the reference check, as it involved an invasive test (blood) so shouldn't be done unless every thing is passed. (Not to mention it gives people a false sense of security) I told them they need to make it clear that the two processes are carried out concurrently.

So what shall I take from this? Well, responsibility for my part in what went wrong in my last job. That is why I didn't get it, after all.

Feel slightly less like I've been punched in the stomach now that the shock has worn off.

daheff

April O Neill wrote: »

So what shall I take from this? Well, responsibility for my part in what went wrong in my last job. That is why I didn't get it, after all.

Sorry you didnt get the job, but in future dont put down a reference from a company that you left on bad terms with/ had difficulties with.

April O Neill

daheff wrote: »

Sorry you didnt get the job, but in future dont put down a reference from a company that you left on bad terms with/ had difficulties with.

I was required to give my last employer as a referee unfortunately. And even if it wasn't a requirement, I think it always sends up red flags if you don't.

April O Neill

I actually turned down a job interview last week. I don't need be told how unwise that was though. :P

The same referee issues would have likely reared their head anyway if I'd been successful at interview.

I have my Masters starting in a few weeks and a part time cleaning job sorted, so I'll drag myself out of this mess somehow.

Outkast_IRE

April O Neill wrote: »

I actually turned down a job interview last week. I don't need be told how unwise that was though. :P

The same referee issues would have likely reared their head anyway if I'd been successful at interview.

I have my Masters starting in a few weeks and a part time cleaning job sorted, so I'll drag myself out of this mess somehow.

Best of luck , was an interesting little read.

I honestly think its madness for a company to pay for medical if they don't intend on giving you a firm offer why would they waste the money.

April O Neill

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

I honestly think its madness for a company to pay for medical if they don't intend on giving you a firm offer why would they waste the money.

That's what I really don't get. It was a public sector job - they really don't help the public's perception of them, do they? :mad:

freeze4real

I'm currently in the same situation.

Got offered a job going through background and criminal check. Which is taking ages but still I keep on going for interviews till I on a sheet that I'm officially employed.

April O Neill

freeze4real wrote: »

I'm currently in the same situation.

Got offered a job going through background and criminal check. Which is taking ages but still I keep on going for interviews till I on a sheet that I'm officially employed.

If you didn't feck up your last job like I did, you'll be grraaaaand.

I'm more angry at the absolutely shambolic recruitment process they have in place, and that I was put through two medicals. :mad:

Posy

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job, April.
Ridiculous policy with the medical and reference checking! The medical check should be after you're offered the job, surely!

Is it the accounting course you're going back to do? That will open up waaay more doors for you in the long run I hope. xx

April O Neill

Posy wrote: »

Is it the accounting course you're going back to do? That will open up waaay more doors for you in the long run I hope. xx

Yep, well the Professional Dip in Tax, to be specific.

Hope it works out!

Posy

Best of luck with it!