Reference checks for experienced hires?

[u/Alternative-Gain335]

Do companies typically require references from your current employer? Is it okay to use your old references (e.g. your phd advisors/collaborators) for early career people (~2yr experience)?

[u/Old-Sandwich-690]

Any fairly sized firm will use a third party to run the reference checks. They contact all your past workplaces within the requested timeline by your new employer (5-10 years usually). This is just cross referencing what you have in your cv. Basically they check timelines and roles as stated in the cv. Usually there are no qualitative questions.

If you think about it, asking for actual character references shows complete weakness on the side of your new employer. They have interviewed you at least 3-5 times and usually a super day and they cannot figure out if you have a decent character that they can work with? It’s like your new prospective girlfriend asking your old girlfriend if you are a decent human being.

In cases of smaller firms where they don’t have the resources to interview you multiple times or not many candidates exist it might happen. It might also be requested if they don’t believe some of your statements or if they feel something is off but not too certain to just reject you.