How common is it to never check references?

[Anonymous]

My husband hires fairly frequently for the federal government and he often never checks references. It hasn't back-fired on him yet (in 10 years of hiring).
I'm now interviewing in the private sector and am about to have interview round #5 (with 2 people very high up in the company who I will not directly work with or report to). However, no one has ever asked for my references.
Is it possible I'll get an offer without them ever asking for or checking references?

[Anonymous]

Not sure but I have had people ask me to be a reference several times but have gotten a call only once.

[Anonymous]

Any reference provided is only going to say nice things. I never call them - except to confirm salary and position. But I do try to find people not listed who have worked with the person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any reference provided is only going to say nice things. I never call them - except to confirm salary and position. But I do try to find people not listed who have worked with the person.

Actually I checked a reference once, and he referred to the applicant as "the anti-christ". True story.

[Anonymous]

Rarely.

[Anonymous]

The higher the position and the more people and communication skills are important to the job, the more likely they will check. I know of a company with a retention problem and they never check references. But people and communication skills don't matter for those positions so maybe that is why they don't check.

[Anonymous]

I thought that the federal government require checking references. I was told that they require at least two including the current supervisor.

[Anonymous]

I've been with two employers (private companies) that didn't ask for references. However, each had very extensive background checks, one including criminal, with fingerprints and everything.

[Anonymous]

I thought that many employers would only confirm dates of employment and salary. I guess personal references are different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any reference provided is only going to say nice things. I never call them - except to confirm salary and position. But I do try to find people not listed who have worked with the person.

Actually I checked a reference once, and he referred to the applicant as "the anti-christ". True story.

Did you hire him? Might be dangerous not to...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that many employers would only confirm dates of employment and salary. I guess personal references are different?

Often, yes. The "we only confirm dates/salary" policy is if anyone makes an official inquiry, that is calls HR. If the candidate provides personal references, those people may be able to provide them. But, I have also worked for one employer who explicitly prohibited anyone from giving references - we were instructed, if contacted in regards to a reference, to send the person to HR, who then would only verify dates (not even sure they would verify salary). It was a big company and I guess they were really weary of any potential lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that many employers would only confirm dates of employment and salary. I guess personal references are different?

Often, yes. The "we only confirm dates/salary" policy is if anyone makes an official inquiry, that is calls HR. If the candidate provides personal references, those people may be able to provide them. But, I have also worked for one employer who explicitly prohibited anyone from giving references - we were instructed, if contacted in regards to a reference, to send the person to HR, who then would only verify dates (not even sure they would verify salary). It was a big company and I guess they were really weary of any potential lawsuits.

Yes, this is the party line at our organization. HR recommends strongly that only confirmation of dates of employment, job title and salary can be given. They also recommend that for personal references within the org- they have been stung a few times with lawsuits when too much information was given out. With that said it doesn't give a lot of information to the person trying to hire.

[Anonymous]

I've been a reference a number of time, and was only called once. Of course I said only nice things! I'd never agree to be a reference and say anything bad. And I immediately called the applicant and told her exactly what they'd asked and what I'd said. But many other times I was never called, and the person was hired anyway. I've given out references multiple times, but no one was ever called, even by HR.

[Anonymous]

In my past several jobs I know my references were called. This was in the private sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that many employers would only confirm dates of employment and salary. I guess personal references are different?

Often, yes. The "we only confirm dates/salary" policy is if anyone makes an official inquiry, that is calls HR. If the candidate provides personal references, those people may be able to provide them. But, I have also worked for one employer who explicitly prohibited anyone from giving references - we were instructed, if contacted in regards to a reference, to send the person to HR, who then would only verify dates (not even sure they would verify salary). It was a big company and I guess they were really weary of any potential lawsuits.

Yes, this is the party line at our organization. HR recommends strongly that only confirmation of dates of employment, job title and salary can be given. They also recommend that for personal references within the org- they have been stung a few times with lawsuits when too much information was given out. With that said it doesn't give a lot of information to the person trying to hire.

This is policy in my association as well. Of course, it's completely hypocritical as they require numerous supervisor references before hiring. I've had to pass on otherwise good applicants because they couldn't supply contact info for all past supervisors.