Letters of Reference
Library HR
37 Posts
Currently we are still asking for three letters of reference from our "Professional" applicants. I do not want to keep doing this just because that is what we have always done. I do accept these letters via e-mail.
Do you require letters of reference or do you just follow up on references given?
Do you require letters of reference or do you just follow up on references given?
Comments
A long, long time ago and in a state far away, I worked for a gentleman who had retired from the UCLA finance department. If he saw "call me if you have any questions" on the letter of reference he immediately canned the application. He believed that was code for "This employee is a piece of work but since they asked for a letter of reference I am giving them one. Call me and I'll give you the true details on the phone." Actually, I have a lot of others stories about this oh so clever gentleman. I have always wondered if he really retired or was just forced out.
An individuals employment history is more informative than a letter of reference they probably wrangled out of the HR department on their way out the door.
What we have our applicants complete are three written references using our form which asks specific questions regarding strengths, weaknesses, attitude, aptitude, etc.
One thing I really like about requiring applicants to provide references using our form is that its your first opportunity to see how they handle a simple assignment. Some are very prompt and efficient in getting their references completed and returned and others seem completely clueless as to how to accomplish this. As an employer, thats useful information.
He lists his supervisor from his current job, where he has been about 18 months. Prior to that, he worked for "Dan [U]?-[/U]stein" for about a year, and before that he was the "top-performing go-to guy" for a Mr. or Ms. "don't remember".
This isn't some kid who's been flipping burgers. This is a 40-year-old sales manager who lists annual incomes of $75k and more for his past three jobs.
Sales managers are usually a little better with names. Of course, I was relegated in the cover letter to "Hiring Manager", even though I personally explained over the phone how to apply, and my name was listed in the online application process.
Sharon
Do you require letters of reference or do you just follow up on references given?[/QUOTE]
We follow up on the references given. In most cases the references are positive but I have had a couple who questioned why the person listed them as references.
I always get good advice and I appreciate everyone's input.
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I'd appreciate a copy of your form, if you don't mind. [email]tbostwick@pahrumpnv.org[/email]
And that reminds me of the employee I had who wanted to be the beneficiary of their own life insurance policy...
Nope, it was a younger employee and apparently he didn't understand that beneficiary means "who gets the money if you die". When I initially told him he couldn't be his own beneficiary, he asked why not, so I explained it to him as gently and with as much of a sense of humor as I could that you really can't take it with you!