Job application question

Savvy_Sue

Especially as you can't KNOW a reference is bad until you've used it a few times, and even then you can't be sure of what's said unless you ask to see it. It may not even BE a bad reference, just a bald statement of facts: "Ms slick-chic worked for us from this date to that date, and during that time she had X days sick leave. She resigned during her final period of sick leave."

slick-chic, are you sure references are being taken up before you're rejected? We don't take them up until we've offered the job (subject to satisfactory references, of course). I know they are taken up before interview in some fields, but thought it was more commonly after interview.