Referee asking for job description

Hillbilly1

Jemima09 wrote: »

I think it's polite, but you don't have to.. If you don't feel comfortable giving their name for whatever reason, then just say references can be obtained via HR Dept...

Thank you, I guess I'm just being super polite! It would be via HR anyway but I know it all goes to the same person for references.

They have agreed to give me a reference so I guess I'll just avoid the stress and put the usual contact down?

Jemima09

Hillbilly1 wrote: »

Thank you, I guess I'm just being super polite! It would be via HR anyway but I know it all goes to the same person for references.

They have agreed to give me a reference so I guess I'll just avoid the stress and put the usual contact down?

Yeah just put the usual, you've already mentioned it to them, and the fact that you've already left the business means it's not going to come as a complete surprise!!

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Hillbilly1 wrote: »

To be clear, again, I'm asking for their permission to put forward their name as a contact for a reference.

I think it's polite to say to a previous employer that they may be contacted.

Although from here people are saying they don't do this?

I wouldn't even dream of doing this. It's not me asking them, it's the next company. Everyone who leaves expects them to provide a reference. Why would I go to HR and ask them whether they intend to do their job?

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Jemima09 wrote: »

I think it's polite, but you don't have to.. If you don't feel comfortable giving their name for whatever reason, then just say references can be obtained via HR Dept...

What do you even mean by give their name? As I say, I don't even get asked by future companies for references to contact. They have the details of who I have worked for, it is entirely up to them whether to do so or not, and to choose who in that company to contact.

Where do these references that people give names for even come into it? Do some companies still ask for separate contact details for references? I haven't seen this in years, although to be fair I never deal with application forms, only CVs.

Either way I don't ever see any reason to give anything other than the main company contact and let them redirect it unless you are afraid that some individual might give you a bad reference. Remember there's no such thing as a good reference; they have already offered you the job before they see it. There's adequate and there's bad. "X worked here from Jul 2012 to Dec 2015 as a Y. Our policy is not to give any more information." is as good a reference as 12 A4 sides of glowing praise.

Jemima09

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

What do you even mean by give their name? As I say, I don't even get asked by future companies for references to contact. They have the details of who I have worked for, it is entirely up to them whether to do so or not, and to choose who in that company to contact.

Where do these references that people give names for even come into it? Do some companies still ask for separate contact details for references? I haven't seen this in years, although to be fair I never deal with application forms, only CVs.

Either way I don't ever see any reason to give anything other than the main company contact and let them redirect it unless you are afraid that some individual might give you a bad reference. Remember there's no such thing as a good reference; they have already offered you the job before they see it. There's adequate and there's bad. "X worked here from Jul 2012 to Dec 2015 as a Y. Our policy is not to give any more information." is as good a reference as 12 A4 sides of glowing praise.

I've been asked by some companies and not by others.. so I guess it's just how they handle it. And the one I completed for someone recently, my name was given as I wasn't that persons immediate line manager so it wouldn't have ordinarily come to me, but I guess that's a bit of a different scenario. Also, that company actually wanted the references in before the interview day that the candidates attended, which I did think was a bit unusual, put a bit too much pressure on!

ThemeOne

Ex-employers will pretty much expect to be asked for references by future employers. It's one of the reasons HR departments exist, so you didn't need to ask your old employer.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Jemima09 wrote: »

I've been asked by some companies and not by others.. so I guess it's just how they handle it. And the one I completed for someone recently, my name was given as I wasn't that persons immediate line manager so it wouldn't have ordinarily come to me, but I guess that's a bit of a different scenario. Also, that company actually wanted the references in before the interview day that the candidates attended, which I did think was a bit unusual, put a bit too much pressure on!

Pressure on who? You? Why on earth would you feel pressure? If you don't have time to do it, you just don't do it. That company will soon stop asking for other companies to do them this favour if the way they ask means it never gets done.

Jemima09

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Pressure on who? You? Why on earth would you feel pressure? If you don't have time to do it, you just don't do it. That company will soon stop asking for other companies to do them this favour if the way they ask means it never gets done.

Well two things really.. one, the time constraint, because I did really want to do the reference for this person.. but two, at this point the person hadn't been offered the job, so even though it's probably not the case, it felt a bit like what I said could have been taken in to consideration.. otherwise why ask for it beforehand. Appreciate the second part definitely stems from my own insecurities/worries!

Slinky

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

What do you even mean by give their name? As I say, I don't even get asked by future companies for references to contact. They have the details of who I have worked for, it is entirely up to them whether to do so or not, and to choose who in that company to contact.

Just because you don't get asked for names of references, doesn't mean other people don't.

Don't ever apply for work requiring security clearance for the MoD. Some roles require you to give personal referees who have known you personally for 10 years and they will 'interview' that reference!

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Slinky wrote: »

Just because you don't get asked for names of references, doesn't mean other people don't.

Don't ever apply for work requiring security clearance for the MoD. Some roles require you to give personal referees who have known you personally for 10 years and they will 'interview' that reference!

Which I have said; this is my experience; I have asked whether things are generally different in other industries.

If I apply for a job where I get asked for them I am quite capable of supplying them, thanks. My point is that I haven't been asked. I get that MoD jobs have a higher standard, but outside that area do people regularly get asked for "referees" or is that mainly a thing of the past? It's something my father (now in his late 70s) was obsessed with but which has been entirely irrelevant to my working life (in software development and nearing 50).