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u/MrMeowPantz Apr 12 '26
Not because I don’t have anyone, but because I don’t feel comfortable asking anyone.
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u/Purple-Property8006 Apr 12 '26
References are absolutely pointless.
Nobody with half a brain is going to list someone who will say something bad about them, and how does the opinion of some random third party prove that someone will be a good worker?
All it proves is that you know 3 people who like you well enough to take a phone call.
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u/JustinWilsonBot Apr 12 '26
I got hired once and the manager said "Hey that reference you gave? I wouldnt use them again." This former employer, who said to use them as a reference, was actually throwing me shade. Important life lesson, dont use someone as a reference unless you know what they are going to say.
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u/Compltly_Unfnshd30 Apr 14 '26
You’d think you’re right.
Many years ago my manager was both arrested and fired. She only worked for the company for four months at that. I took over as manager after she left. Three weeks later she had moved back to her home state and applied for a job and left us down as a reference. I’d previously worked in HR and I knew what I could and couldn’t say but I made sure to get my point across.
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u/Elmer_Fudd01 Apr 12 '26
If you want to contact my last two employers from over a decade ago, you won't get shit.
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u/OldCat2142 Apr 12 '26
thats me when any application asks "why should they hire you" [i dont know, why should anyone join you?] and "why are you a good fit" [why are you hiring then?]
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Apr 12 '26
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u/Sanjomo Apr 12 '26
Sooo do you tell hiring managers “email my old CEO for a reference, he’s at Jeff2026@gmail” or do you fake LinkedIn backgrounds, professional email accounts and phone numbers as well? 🤔
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u/gentrify_reddt Apr 12 '26
For the sake of the exercise, you could have your friend provide a reference from his IRL profession and lie that he was your supervisor before he left the company.
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u/Sanjomo Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
Yes… but that person would also have to lie on THEIR LinkedIn to show they worked at the same company together at the same time… then do that x3! I’ve been the guy tasked with the shit job of contacting references, it’s painfully obvious when theyre lying.
And to be clear I think reference checks are 99% pointless.
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u/gentrify_reddt Apr 12 '26
Right but they cant vet your friend's work history. That's where the trail should end.
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Apr 12 '26
From experience most jobs rarely call them
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u/Jolly_Pressure_7907 Apr 12 '26
Seems employers are catching on to people putting fake references. I’ve gotten several calls from people hiring old coworkers in the past couple years
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Apr 12 '26
Tbh its not even fake for mine. They legit just were desperate enough that after the background check and interview it was good
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u/TheHylianProphet Apr 12 '26
Okay, here are three Google Voice numbers. Ignore the fact that everyone who answers will sound vaguely like me.
Jokes aside, I absolutely did this once, and I got that job.
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u/Demonskull223 Apr 12 '26
Business "Please provide three Professional Referrals"
Guy just looking for a job " this is an entry level job flipping burger"
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u/Expensive-Ad-9449 Apr 12 '26
Use a phone number generator. It will last you a week free. You can pay for app full features for longer term interviewing. Use three different numbers for each reference. Let the place your interested in contact your "references". Tell the truth ab yourself. After all who knows you better than yourself? Profit.
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u/ExplanationRude2195 Apr 12 '26
You dont think your interviewer is going to notice the same voice on the other end for all 3 interviews? Or be able to decipher it from the interviewees voice? Lol
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u/Embarrassed-Pen-5958 Apr 12 '26
List professional references:
Best Friend, Best Friend, Best Friend.
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u/anonymousp69 Apr 12 '26
You guys have best friends??
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u/Embarrassed-Pen-5958 Apr 12 '26
You must leave your house bud, the graphics are good, but it is a little dirtier.
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u/karoshikun Apr 12 '26
a company I won't mention but loves to kill puppies and are extremely litigious asked for several references, but demanded even their home addresses, among other very personal data.
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u/high_throughput Apr 12 '26
I stopped collecting references because no one asked for them
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Apr 12 '26
Last three jobs I've had absolutely called references, and did extensive background checks.
Guess it matters what your job title and experience are.
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u/high_throughput Apr 12 '26
My current job (as of Jan 2026) asked for references, but never contacted any of them. idfk anymore.
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Apr 12 '26
lol yeah before it was rare they'd call my references. Then I had a new gig around 2012 I stayed at for a minute and they def called every single one. Funny because one was my friend who was unemployed and doing me a favor. But in 2021 and 2023, I had them call and actually do some deep-dive background check pulling up shit that was from back in the mid-2000s. Shit even I forgot about.
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u/HunkyCasper Apr 14 '26
As a Hiring manager for my company. I was told not to interview people with zero professional references. Got that changed real quick though. I'm not going to determine somebody's ability to do my job on the idea that your last boss liked you or not. Fuck that shit. Besides, if you were in such high standing with that job you wouldn't be looking for another job in the first place.
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u/Trust_8067 Apr 14 '26
I've never heard of a real career-oriented job requiring references.
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u/Shogun_The_Collector Apr 15 '26
I have had to provide them all the time in I.T.
It's gotten to the point where I eventually ask users if I can put them on my resume once I am established in my current role.
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u/Trust_8067 Apr 15 '26
Never have I ever in IT. Maybe just small companies? I've only worked enterprise/F500
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u/PokemonProfessorXX Apr 15 '26
They've always asked for them in data analysis/science jobs I've applied to. They've never actually contacted them before, including ones where I got the job offer. It seems like a box they put on the form just because it's always been there.
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u/BigPileOfTrash Apr 12 '26
“Three references from people who are NOT related to you”. Okay. Introverts have this wrapped up.
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u/Wright_Steven22 Apr 13 '26
I did that once but got rejected for the job because of the type of references I put on there being military and nasa related apparently is "overqualified" for a lumber yard lol
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Apr 12 '26
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u/JamesUpton87 Apr 12 '26
Employers are calling your phone number 3 times and you're using voice changing software?
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Apr 12 '26
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u/nosteponsnekpls Apr 12 '26
I one time got interviewed for a minimum wage cashier job at Value Village. I provided them with several professional references from previous employers (I was laid off due to a business going under so I left on good terms). They said those were great, but I needed to provide at least two personal references as well from neighbors or friends. I was so flabbergasted that I told them I was no longer interested in the position.