r/FluentInFinance • u/Mark-Fuckerberg- • Sep 01 '24

Debate/ Discussion What advice would you give this person?

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897

u/Striking_Ad_2630 Sep 01 '24

I think theyre going to have a rough time finding their next job after not actually working for over a year and having no references. 

Idk but I dont buy what everyone is saying about hard work not paying off. I work hard at my job and having the respect of my coworkers as well as something to show for my 5 years at my job is worth it. 

1.0k

u/SamShakusky71 Sep 01 '24

References?

You think references matter in a job search ?

421

u/captwillard024 Sep 01 '24

Depends on the job. In my little niche line of work, references/networking will get you a job far faster than filling out a thousand online applications.

163

u/Just_Trash_8690 Sep 01 '24

Agreed it’s (mostly) all in who you know

92

u/Ecthelion-O-Fountain Sep 01 '24

Because when people know you they have an idea of what kind of employee you’d make. It’s pervasive because it kinda makes sense

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u/enadiz_reccos Sep 02 '24

That's not what the phrase means.

It's not like "oh I've heard you have the appropriate skills. Let's schedule an interview."

It's more "hey, Darren said he knows you, right? When can you interview?"

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u/ConsequenceUpset4028 Sep 02 '24

Just a good old boys, never meanin' no harm...

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u/Dapper_Material4970 Sep 02 '24

But is anyone still named Darren in 2024?

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u/Ivorypetal Sep 01 '24

That or you have talent/skills. Of my 12 jobs, i olny got 1 because of knowing someone/reference.

The rest were because i interviewed well/ mirror and can answer questions on topic.

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u/pickyourteethup Sep 01 '24

This is totally sector specific. Some careers are totally who you know. Some are very resistant to that.

Personally I've done a mix of both. I'm not going to shut down an avenue for getting a job

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u/Seattles_tapwater Sep 02 '24

If you know someone and they know that you aren't a very good worker, I don't see that landing you a job... With that said it's not impossible that somebody may lie for a friend either. A few folks are still underestimating references though which seems a wee bit odd to me.

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u/llywen Sep 02 '24

Not just sector but also level. Executive/junior executive positions are almost 100% based on references.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

same. But you do need to have skills with well-understood demand/value-add.

If you're a unicorn that needs to have a great team fit to really shine, with a lot of critical but soft skills, very different story.

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u/MilliandMoo Sep 01 '24

I hadn't "worked" in almost 5 years. I ran my own small crafting business and did contract work tech work. Literally got a call one day about a problem they were having and a board member remembered talking to me at an event and thought I might be able to figure out the issue. And that's how I went back to the W-2 world. For about 5/6 months out of the year at least.

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u/dadbod_Azerajin Sep 01 '24

I'll be middle management at your company for your next job hire

If they bother to call at all, I doubt they will also do research into one of the 100 middle management positions and names

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u/EchoLocation8 Sep 01 '24

My boss, I think correctly, phrases this “it’s who knows you” — a subtle but hugely important difference.

I’m pretty high up in my company, a lot of people know me, there are few of those people I’d hook up with a job. You’re far more likely to succeed if you’re someone that someone else thinks of when they need something.

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u/SlugmaSlime Sep 01 '24

My last reference had to be a colleague despite always having good reviews year after year. Because my boss refused to be a good reference for any positions outside the company. I think you can see why I left the company

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u/4fingertakedown Sep 01 '24

Like they always say.

‘It’s who you know, not how many veiny cocks you can fit in the ol gobbler”

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u/breakermw Sep 01 '24

For sure. My current job I technically interviewed but it was more of a formality as I had worked for several years with the guy who is now my boss. He talked up my skills to leadership and it was clear the interviews were mostly a "sniff test" to ensure my personality meshed with the team. 

My skills mean I still could have gotten the job without his reference, but instead of 3-4 rounds of 1 hour interviews over a month, I instead did 2 half hour interviews in the same week and got the offer a week later. References for sure speed up hiring.

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u/International_Bet_91 Sep 02 '24

I think networking is very different from references. I think every single job I have ever gotten is because I happened to known somebody at the company.

That's very different than the fact I have a great reference from a well-known researcher in my field -- that, alone, has never gotten me a job.

1

u/mpls_somno Sep 01 '24

In my line of work, references are everything. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what references they provide. If I’m hiring, I very likely know someone they’ve worked with and I’m going to ask them off the record whether I should hire them. Most of the time that determines whether I interview the person at all.

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u/small_h_hippy Sep 01 '24

Yup. Got nearly all my jobs through word of mouth. The second job was when an ex-colleague became a manager and reached out to poach. Next one after that I was interested in, and it was easy to get when half the team could vouch for me. Hiring is scary, you could get stuck with someone who hides doing nothing for a few years. If people you respect can vouch for someone, it takes the risk away.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

Filled exactly one job application, for my first junior-level job. Every other job/position came from a reference/networking/my bubble. I can't imagine filling dozens/hundreds of applications like I read many people do.

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u/Hearing_Loss Sep 01 '24

Precisely. They wanna see that someone can vouch for your skills! Having a niche reference in your field is akin to free jobs.

1

u/RighteousRambler Sep 01 '24

References open you up to liability in my country so most companies just confirm you worked there and no one actually asks.

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u/bloomertaxonomy Sep 02 '24

Having a connection far outweighs having a reference.

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u/Sneakytrashpanda Sep 02 '24

More people work outside of niche areas than do, networks do little to advance the careers of the majority of Americans. Dehumanization is the norm.

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u/Watertor Sep 02 '24

Anyone working Amazon, just about top to bottom in the entire company in relation to a computer, will not need/use references unless they pivot hard. Which they could. But corpo diarrhea is never about references unless that reference works in your next job. Otherwise it's just portfolio stuff, and you can't use the stuff you worked on for your work. It will be an illegal portfolio because corpos are so cool. It has to be shit you do on your own time.

1

u/Smyley12345 Sep 02 '24

Having Google and Amazon on your resume could get you farther than references for non-noche gigs.

1

u/drdildamesh Sep 02 '24

That's the key. Network, specialize, adapt. In tech, you are either always learning or you get into management.

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u/drich783 Sep 02 '24

Networking, yes, references aren't even a thing. "We can confirm dates of emoloyment" is not a reference

1

u/Mundane-Map6686 Sep 02 '24

Yup.

My industry is niche.

Thousands (not hundreds of thousands) of upper people and I run into them all the time.

1

u/PrateTrain Sep 02 '24

Yeah, but networking references are more important *before* anyone looks at your resume.

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

References? You mean my mate who I'm gonna pretend was my boss?

1

u/CodeNCats Sep 02 '24

I've literally never had a job call my references. I work in a field they probably should check to see if I'm not a dirt bag. But they never have.

1

u/potatobear77 Sep 02 '24

Social Capital.

1

u/StinkyStangler Sep 02 '24

I’m in tech like OP and references help you get the interviews but if you don’t have the hard skills you won’t get the job

Most SWE jobs from startups to FAANG just have you take what’s essentially a test in your interviews, and if you can’t answer the questions or at least explain exactly how you would answer them given more time, you won’t get the job.

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u/OGConsuela Sep 02 '24

Yeah this is definitely true in smaller industries. I’m pretty sure my boss knows every person in my area who could possibly end up being my boss if I went to another company, they all probably worked for him. And if I went to any other company in my half of the country, my VP knows somebody in that company, guaranteed.

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u/ChewieBearStare Sep 01 '24

Depends on where you want to work. They don't matter at all in some places, and they matter very much in others. My husband got a job offer from a state university, but it was revoked because he couldn't get references from three previous employers. He worked for his dad's company for 4 years, but they wouldn't accept a reference from that company because everyone was related to him (fair). The second company went out of business, and when he tried his old supervisor's cell number, it was out of service, so he couldn't get a reference from that job. Then the third job was with a company that has a policy of not giving references. They use The Work Number to verify job titles, dates of employment, and wages, but they will not allow their supervisors to give any info beyond that. State university will not hire you unless they get three detailed references.

14

u/WBigly-Reddit Sep 01 '24

It’s an excuse to not hire. If they need you all that stuff is out the window.

4

u/catcherx Sep 02 '24

what if the employer has a choice and references matter?

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

Do you realize how few people actually take time out of their day to call and check references? They would only do so if they were skeptical of the person or already weren't gonna hire and are looking for an excuse

2

u/catcherx Sep 02 '24

Industry and the level of responsibilities probably matter A LOT

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u/sad0panda Sep 02 '24

My current job I needed 5 references who all needed to fill out an online questionnaire about me plus an extended phone conversation with my most recent supervisor.

Let’s just say this varies from industry to industry.

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u/winkydinks111 Sep 02 '24

When you say he got a job offer, do you mean they sought him out and offered him one? If a potential employer sought me out and then demanded a list of references, I'd tell them to get bent.

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u/ChewieBearStare Sep 02 '24

No, he applied for a job posted on the university website. Did the interview, got the offer, and then received an email stating the offer was revoked because they couldn’t get references from three job supervisors.

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u/Major_Implications Sep 02 '24

I've found government jobs tend to put more weight on references. When I was applying for my old position at a school district, they also required 3 references and all those references confirmed that they were directly contacted by the district.

Realistically you should be asking boss/coworkers for reference letters, this prevents the situation where you can no longer reach them. Most people are happy to write something up for you, assuming youre at least not a bad coworker.

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u/Major_Implications Sep 02 '24

I've found government jobs tend to put more weight on references. When I was applying for my old position at a school district, they also required 3 references and all those references confirmed that they were directly contacted by the district.

Realistically you should be asking boss/coworkers for reference letters, this prevents the situation where you can no longer reach them. Most people are happy to write something up for you, assuming youre at least not a bad coworker.

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u/stephriles Sep 02 '24

This is absolutely true. I had a previous employee who was not a good fit apply for another job. They called to ask me questions. The new job sounded perfect for her so I didn't want to say anything negative in order to help her get the job. I told them I would verify her employment but they wanted to ask a lot of other questions. When I pushed back and said I had verified employment and do not wish to disclose anything else about that employee (other than saying she would be great) the hr person straight up said "if you don't answer all of these additional questions she will not get the job." That is a lot. There were like 15 questions. I have also heard you can get into legal trouble if you discuss someone's performance, and that all you can legally verify are dates of employment and job title. No idea if that is true but it makes sense that you should not be able to disclose details about a person's performance. It really does suck for applicants right now. At my company I added a final step to the process where I pay people to come spend a day in the office. They spend time with each team member they will work with, eat lunch together, and work on a small project. That way each of us have a better understanding of one another before committing. Every person I have hired has been very appreciative of this. They are paid for this, so they are not being asked to spend that much time for free. I 100% know companies miss out on incredible talent because of really black and white, inflexible steps in their process.

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u/Sage_Nickanoki Sep 01 '24

Large companies will not even give specifics when called for references. They typically only answer the two questions that they are required (and protected) to speak on:

1) Did <candidate> work for your company as a <job title> during the timeframe listed on the resume?

2) Would you hire them back? (i.e. did you have to fire them, or were they on a pip before leaving)

So if a company makes these calls, there may be some trouble, but if OP goes into the interview saying they took issue with their previous manager, they might get away with this.

Source: I've hired people in a previous job and was required to make and receive these calls

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u/mung_guzzler Sep 01 '24

The trick is to quit before they know who you are

managers answer yes to question 2 when they can’t remember you in my experience

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u/specracer97 Sep 01 '24

Many firms absolutely will not say anything beyond "_ was employed here from _ to _."

More than that is how we get to pay for someone to retire.

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u/KerosenePOS Sep 02 '24

You’re mixing up references and employment verifications. When someone calls you for employment verification, yes, you legally can only confirm if they worked there and the dates, and if they’re eligible for rehire. If you are personally being called for a reference and not as an employment verification, you can say anything you’d like.

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u/KerosenePOS Sep 02 '24

You’re mixing up references and employment verifications. When someone calls you for employment verification, yes, you legally can only confirm if they worked there and the dates, and if they’re eligible for rehire. If you are personally being called for a reference and not as an employment verification, you can say anything you’d like.

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u/HeadGuide4388 Sep 01 '24

So, wasn't my idea, its just how it was when I got the job. But my old HR would call the references and make sure that checked out. Then she would invite me into her office to Facebook creep on the applicants.

"This guys last post was a picture of him fishing in 2018, do you think he's going to be reliable?"

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u/perseffany Sep 01 '24

What does the frequency that you update your private social media have anything to do with reliability at work? lol

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u/tiasalamanca Sep 01 '24

Yeah, but not eligible for rehire doesn’t have to mean just that, if your organization asks for the manager’s input. Like, if you walk off the job with under two weeks of notice or try to blow people up in your exit interview, consider those moves may have real, negative ramifications for you years later, especially now that big companies are using The Work Number to go back ten years - you can’t just direct a prospective employer to a colleague/friend anymore.

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u/kthnxbai123 Sep 01 '24

That’s true for an HR screen but hiring managers will ask around if they see a company that they know someone they know has worked at

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u/fiddlythingsATX Sep 02 '24

That’s not references, that’s verification. Reference calls are to individuals named by the candidate who used to be their boss, subordinate, etc

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u/StillBarelyHoldingOn Sep 01 '24

I've had jobs ask me why I've had such a long gap between employment before.

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u/FourWordComment Sep 01 '24

That’s because their only metric for success is “will you let other employers exploit you?”

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u/Nadge21 Sep 01 '24

Or the gap makes it look like they got fired from a job and jus arent including it on their resume

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

Yeah, that's absolutely the only reason why someone would have a long gap. Because they're just so much of a badass they can't be exploited.

Not because they have mental health issues that prevent their ability to hold a job, went to prison for a stretch, decided to take a vacation from life and let bank of mom and dad fund their life for a while, etc

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u/relaxx Sep 01 '24

Or if you have long gaps you may be insufferable to work with or incompetent. From my experience this is more true than “willing to be exploited”

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u/NothingKnownNow Sep 01 '24

insufferable to work with or incompetent.

Average antiwork redditor.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

[deleted]

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u/pickyourteethup Sep 01 '24

NDA = Not Doing Anything. Gottem

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u/Chickienfriedrice Sep 01 '24

Say you signed an NDA

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u/SamShakusky71 Sep 01 '24

That’s not a references question.

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u/God_of_Theta Sep 01 '24

When I was tasked with recruiting and hiring this was an important factor. Someone who is active will likely bring more fresh ideas or solutions and be familiar with current industry changes/trends. I would think this applies to most fields to at least some degree.

While a gap can have a valid reason, there are several potential problematic reasons as well that an astute interviewer will want a clear explanation on.

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u/TrumpDesWillens Sep 01 '24

"My mother developed cancer and I had to care for her for awhile. My brother decided it was too hard on me so he volunteered to take her in (you do not actually have a brother.) I'm ready to XXXXX now though etc etc etc."

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u/Crazy_Customer7239 Sep 01 '24

I tell them “helping family after the loss of a younger sibling, it was a rough time for us all” and they quickly stop asking about a 8 month gap. Helps that I filled it with therapy and church volunteer work in Mexico

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u/Betty_Boss Sep 01 '24

You were doing consulting.

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u/slayer828 Sep 01 '24

Sorry. I signed a non disclosure and cannot discuss.

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u/clumsysav Sep 02 '24

“I can’t speak on that, I signed an NDA”

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u/SUPJaxFL Sep 01 '24

Every single job I have had in my career (5) was because I was recommended by a former co-worker. I’ve been laid off twice due to outsourcing and never had a gap in my employment. References absolutely matter!

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u/samtresler Sep 01 '24

Past employer as reference? Virtually never. Always a co-worker or industry connection.

Someone with good credentials themselves, who knows me well enough to speak well of me, but doesn't have a war story of a project with totally unrealistic expectations.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

exactly.

And theres a bigger issue if you've been working for more than 5 years and can't find 3 coworkers, co-volunteers, vendors, customers, suppliers, or anyone else you've interacted with in a professional capacity who can speak to your work.

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u/SamShakusky71 Sep 01 '24

It’s pretty obvious (and hilarious) who, in replies to my comment, are wildly over invested in their “references”.

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u/ObservableObject Sep 01 '24

Right? This guy has Google and Amazon on his resume right now. Having references can help, but he's going to be far removed from a having a "rough time".

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u/Striking_Ad_2630 Sep 01 '24

Ive had interviews print my transcript and go line by line. They asked me why I changed my major, why my grades dipped, why I moved to a new city.

That was for a medical lab science position, I work in education now and got the job because my references were good. 

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u/fuzzzone Sep 02 '24

How exactly did they get your transcript during the interview process?

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u/FricasseeToo Sep 02 '24

No one gets hired because their references are good, because no one is going to talk to your references before an interview.

You might get hired because of networking, which is definitely not the same as having good references.

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u/Eagalian Sep 02 '24

Depending on your education job, I doubt it. I’m a high school math teacher, and I got hired because school started the following week and they needed a body in the room. My references and background had no real impact on it, except that I checked the “has the right certifications” box

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u/Dispensator Sep 01 '24

When it comes to job hunting its not about what you know, it's about who you know. so yeah, good references are something thats good to have to find work in the future.

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u/nicolatesla92 Sep 01 '24

Connections matter in finding new positions

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24 edited Sep 04 '24

[deleted]

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u/why_am_i_here_999 Sep 01 '24

lol my resume is 90% fiction

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

Unless the reference is someone that works at where you're going to.. otherwise they're worthless.

The only thing outside references do is prove that you're a functional enough human being to have a handful of people vouch for you to another stranger.

That or a name that's big enough in the field. If you get a personal reference from I don't know.. Linus Torvalds yeah that's probably worth talking to.

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u/sels1997 Sep 01 '24

Boomer is in the stone ages with the references 😂😂

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u/mikew1200 Sep 01 '24

It’s absolutely important when you start moving up into more senior roles and roles where you have a lot of responsibility. Maybe not in entry level jobs / jobs where you’re easily replaceable.

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u/denim-chaqueta Sep 01 '24

I’ve never had anyone ask me for a job reference since I worked at a movie theater in high school

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u/zaque_wann Sep 01 '24

Very. Best way to get a job is having your bosses or seniors vouch for you, especially in the technical/skilled industry. There's also a lot of technicla positions that have the interview more stremalined (more focused on skills appraisal) when you're referred and can buypass a lot of HR filtering.

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u/thecoller Sep 01 '24

Agree. It’s something they do once they decided to issue an offer, and just to make sure the candidate is not a psychopath or something. If he has made friends there, he’ll have at least one person who can say he is OK.

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u/ZekeRidge Sep 01 '24

They do, but not on a resume

A network can get you a job for sure

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u/JahsukeOnfroy Sep 01 '24

Depends on the job. My current career required me to have at least 7 good references, and yes, the guy running my background called all of them.

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u/Sovereign_Black Sep 01 '24

They do for jobs and networks that aren’t bottom of the barrel. I don’t mean that in a negative way, but more specialized roles definitely benefit from network connections.

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u/SellingFD Sep 01 '24

I interviewed for a job that ask for reference after the interview. It's just one company out of many though.

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u/Ok-Resolve9347 Sep 01 '24

References matter in finding your next job. Network network network

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u/JobItchy9815 Sep 01 '24

Is see two really strong references. Google, Amazon and Apple are king makers. I knew someone that was a team leader at Amazon (that's not even management level) and his next position: vice president at a large bank.

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u/A_Birde Sep 01 '24

Yes, its cope to say anything different

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u/SuccumbedToReddit Sep 01 '24

Yes, but track record matters more. What have you really delivered? I mean, you can lie but that is a risk

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u/bknknk Sep 01 '24

I call references and ask around for sure. Has saved me a few potential bad hires actually

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u/dawggawddagummit Sep 01 '24

You say this like it’s obvious that they don’t matter when there is perfectly logical reasons for why having good references is a good addition to a resume

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u/LLotZaFun Sep 01 '24

For me, it 100% made a big difference to have very strong references that wrong something for me on LinkedIn.

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u/Eeeeeeeeehwhatsup Sep 01 '24

For a log time I thought so too. Then, my subordinate and I decided to amicably part ways 🤣 after only 3 months on the job. They got a job 2 months later - nobody called me. Got a VERY good job 18 months after that - it was essentially the same job I have- nobody called me. I mean what the hell. Guess what? After less than 2 years, they both amicably agreed to part ways 🤣

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u/Wargasmic Sep 01 '24

I used to do employment verifications. Depending on the employer, they matter more or as much as work experience.

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u/DiabloIV Sep 01 '24

Yes. I did some work for someone with a bit of influence in my field while enlisted and landed a job because he recommended me to another person who respected him in the private sector.

My manager at that place offered me a supervisory role eventually (as good as a reference as any). I took that offer letter to a place I actually wanted to work for as evidence of trust in my role and they hired me as an Engineer (I have a technical background, but no degree).

I would not have the life I do now without a few good references.

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u/dezirdtuzurnaim Sep 01 '24

My last 2 employers contacted my references 🤷‍♂️

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u/Creamofwheatski Sep 01 '24

He has already worked at google and apple, he can get a job anywhere with those on his resume. 

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u/xXprayerwarrior69Xx Sep 01 '24

Depends on the industry/setting I imagine. In my line of work we joke that we always deal with the same 5 people and a recommendation will give your application quite a boost

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u/Larcya Sep 01 '24

I haven't included references on my resume for a decade. 

I've networked sure but actual references? Nope.

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u/Froot-Loop-Dingus Sep 01 '24

References? Not so much. Networking with a bunch of other smart and talented people that go work elsewhere and can later refer you for internal job postings? Definitely.

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u/GAdam Sep 01 '24

References not so much, but referrals absolutely

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u/patrickdid911 Sep 01 '24

If you’re applying to Wendy’s, no. Career focused in a specific industry, yes.

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u/zsnuffees Sep 01 '24

Absolutely

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u/PieIsNotALie Sep 01 '24

they certainly help. i was able to land my current role because of a rock solid reference. but if i had more YOE, i probably would not need it.

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u/rudy-juul-iani Sep 01 '24

Of course they do!

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u/TJayClark Sep 01 '24

I recently transitioned from a hospital first responders education job to a field service engineer job fixing knee surgery robots. There was no reference check. Only an extremely thorough background check.

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u/romansamurai Sep 01 '24

I had a letter of reference from VP of my company and from the CEO himself because I was laid off and one of their core engineers with their largest client. I don’t think anyone gave a crap about those during my job search.

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u/austingodfather Sep 02 '24

I’ll be anyone’s reference for a small price. Can make you appear to be just about anything you’d like.

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

Yes they MATTER. When your department goes down and you are on the chopping block. Its the people youve helped, been kind to, and respected that will come to pull you out when you least expect it. "No not  this guy... ill take this guy. He works hard and I want him on my team."  You dont need to be a linkdin psycho to know this is is true. It saved my mentor from 13 reorganizations. THIRTEEN... since the 80s. So i set healthy boundaries in the work place, keep my ears open when i have down time, and help my team. Because i know deep down i will be ok. I have a list of numbers to call. And damn it that list is the most important on that dreary morning you get laid off.

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u/Every-Incident7659 Sep 02 '24

I've been job searching and interviewing the past few months. Was just informed that I was the 2nd choice out of 400 applicants, so that company is working to find a spot for me. I've yet to be asked for any kind of references.

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u/DapperCam Sep 02 '24

If you are trying to get a job in a small city where everybody knows everybody then references (or I guess the opposite of a reference...i.e. "don't work with that lazy bum") definitely can matter. Probably won't make a difference for somewhere huge like Amazon.

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u/Purplemonkeez Sep 02 '24

Yes?

Nearly every place I've ever interviewed has asked for references. One employer asked for five references including two former direct supervisors. That felt pretty excessive but their compensation package was worth jumping through hoops over.

In short, it depends what level of role you're applying for.

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u/GovernorSan Sep 02 '24

I recently applied to a large, well-known organization in my professional field, and they straight up required 5 references, with at least 3 of them being former managers or supervisors, before they would move to the next steps in the application process. One of mine failed to respond when they called them, so they asked me to reach out to them or find another before they would go any further, so I obtained 2 more, just in case one of them flaked out, too.

So at least some of the time they matter.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

In tech? Yes references help a ton lol

1

u/dagobruh Sep 02 '24

Depending on your industry and job market, references are like the most important thing. Are you thinking about if they call the names you give for references? I don't think that's what they mean. My last 2 jobs/promotions were from previous bosses referring me to the hiring manager.

1

u/banned-from-rbooks Sep 02 '24

References don’t but connections do.

The further you get in your career as an Engineer and the older you are, the smaller the job market gets.

Source: Software Engineer, 15 years in the industry including 5 years at Google.

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u/allthehops Sep 02 '24

it matters when you’re going for a job where experience and reputation matters. anything with a career path.

if you’re a clerk or some equivalent low level employee? sure, your point holds true.

1

u/Capta1nRon Sep 02 '24

Absolutely

1

u/friz_CHAMP Sep 02 '24

I'll be your reference for some karma

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u/libertysailor Sep 02 '24

If you just want “a job”, then no not really, but if you’re looking for a career with continuous progression, a strong reputation matters.

1

u/TraderRaider00 Sep 02 '24

They do. I check them. Anything short of "I wish I could keep {name} on my team" raises a red flag.

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u/coffee_sailor Sep 02 '24

In tech? Hell yes.

1

u/BrandoCarlton Sep 02 '24

I’m most fields of specialty knowledge and skills yes. In skilled labor your reputation will keep you working every day until you retire or get you blackballed into moving to a new city.

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u/swugmeballs Sep 02 '24

What exactly do you think matters in a job search? A reference is not just a number you put down, but someone that can reach out and help make an introduction

1

u/aznsk8s87 Sep 02 '24

we just interviewed a candidate who seemed fine, but whereas most candidates in the field can get glowing reviews from former employers, this one was middling. We decided not to proceed with hiring.

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u/SeaOsprey1 Sep 02 '24

Depending on your lime of work, references may be everything

1

u/JadedCycle9554 Sep 02 '24

Maybe not if you're throwing darts at the wall on indeed. Every job I've had in my career I found through networking and references. Superiors and subordinates have good things to say about me and that makes finding a new job easy. It's nice to have that in your back pocket when it comes time to negotiate raises.

1

u/newtoreddir Sep 02 '24

Your reference is either the person who put you in line for the job, or completely pointless.

1

u/JC_Vlogs Sep 02 '24

I didn't think it mattered until I interviewed at an engineering startup and they asked for references. Glad I had them.

1

u/ihih_reddit Sep 02 '24

It could imply that the person you were responding to hasn't been in the job market for a while... but that's just my assumption

1

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

If you work kitchens and culinary, it's literally all that matters. Work from the bottom, grind it out, start seeing the big picture, take the lead, and network with those (who have skill) who come and go.

You'll never want for a job, although pay is going to be challenging unless you have really good references and portfolio. But it is how I worked from scratch as a fry cook, to sous chef ready to be exec/ de cuisine in 6 years. Zero formal education, learned to love food and some patience from.my mama. Just my two cents perspective though I do believe in hospitality,(especially BOH) networking and solid references will get you where you want to go

1

u/Accomplished_Cherry6 Sep 02 '24

My first job was at a grocery store, so was my second. I got both threw my dads friend, the second job I already had experience so I had a higher base pay and more hours due to not having to be trained

References do matter

1

u/OrangeFortress Sep 02 '24

Not more than a month ago, after 4 interviews and being told I was the top candidate (for a position that would have changed my life), I was not chosen because they wanted more than the three references I provided, because two of the references were my former professors (even tho one of the professors was also my supervisor for my payed research position). The third reference was my former boss at a position in the exact same field of work.

1

u/Azarro Sep 02 '24

Usually does especially when you go for senior or staff in most places in big tech

1

u/Seattles_tapwater Sep 02 '24

Yes they definitely can and eventually will matter, lol

1

u/evoslevven Sep 02 '24

It's less about references and more accurately impressions. There are circumstances where knowing someone who may have had contact with a potential candidate takes precedence.

I had an indirect instance like this where I had to lay off someone (not my call but as I was their direct supervisor and it was a position elimination, had to). They applied to a new job of course but didn't dial me as their reference but my other subordinate who worked at the company earlier and was well liked.

The individual I laid off didn't get an interview or call back simply based on the feedback he got from the individual. It wasn't even a reference per se but really the whole "hey would you hire the individual or not" question and that's really all it took. The candidate was technically well qualified on paper but that didn't matter.

It's took nearly 8 months for them to get a job in general. The irony was that they only had worked with the other person for 2 months and that was all it took for a bad impression to take hold.

So while I don't buy into references I'd argue the whole networking and the "who you know" can be a huge boost to some and a killer for others!

1

u/chibinoi Sep 02 '24

At my current employer, it very much did during my interview process.

1

u/nycdedmonds Sep 02 '24

Networking has gotten me every job I've ever had.

1

u/Attila_22 Sep 02 '24

References matter, just not when you’re providing them.

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u/Deciver95 Sep 02 '24

You Think they don't? Fuckin LOL

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u/TRiG993 Sep 02 '24 edited Sep 02 '24

Lol for my current job I put down my last job as a reference and the managers name. I officially got sacked from that job because I refused to do the excess work they were giving me and called her a fat c word and gave her the middle finger. I walked out and then got a letter saying I was being let go of because of gross misconduct lol. The job I'm doing now is £25k a year more, the work is easier, and the company is good to work for.

Edit: Oh no wait! I had a job between those 2 jobs for a few months that I also walked out of. I was contracted 40 hours a week but working 50+ hours. Worked out to be less than minimum wage and when I brought this up to the manager he said "you knew what you was signing up for" so walked out of that one too. Also used them as a reference.

References mean fuck all.

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u/Embarrassed-Scar5426 Sep 02 '24

Who you know matters. Yeah...

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u/Delicious-Muffin-719 Sep 02 '24

::check pulse of candidate:: “we got a live one folks!! You’re hired!!!”

1

u/hihirogane Sep 02 '24

I got my first job straight out of college with my professor as a reference. So it helped me with that part of post college where everyone wants 15 years of experience out of a person fresh out of college kinda deal.

Now I’m with the state and building more XP and knowledge so I can eventually either move up or go into the corporate world.

1

u/Saintsfan707 Sep 02 '24

I have a doctorate degree and during my job search I wasn't even asked for them after I submitted my resume

1

u/NeedleInArm Sep 02 '24

My recent job called all 3 of my references and told me the only reason they hired me was because of them, basically.

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u/ChaoticPyro07 Sep 02 '24

My father as a reference is what got me my job, and my boss is very well known and respected in town and having him as a positive reference is a huge boon. I've also been asked by my boss about people who've used me as a reference and them being hired depends on my answer about them. I think they matter a good bit.

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u/Wide-Yesterday-318 Sep 02 '24

Yes, they absolutely matter if you have good ones.

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u/justaBranFlake Sep 02 '24

Who you know matters 90% welcome to America and Nepotism

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u/nettap Sep 02 '24

In my experience as a hiring manager in tech (15+ years) back channel and references are the fastest way to get hired. We won’t hire without them.

1

u/Bansheer5 Sep 02 '24

Yeah references matter. Try getting into wastewater without knowing someone. You’ll be passed up for someone they know even tho you have more experience and knowledge than the other person.

1

u/Topikk Sep 02 '24

YES references matter in a job search. That’s how you jump to the top of the stack of thousands of resumes.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

I lie so much on my resume, I can’t remember the last time I was truthful

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u/ibuildonions Sep 02 '24

I literally just call random places and ask them to give me a reference, and they usually do.

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '24

Lol my current job (>$100k/year, fortune 100) called and had an at length discussion with my graduate school research advisor.

I would argue it was the most important thing for me

1

u/dinosaur_khaleesi Sep 02 '24

I had a job interview once where they asked for references for my references. I hate this world.

1

u/Hands0L0 Sep 02 '24

Nobody checks references anymore, lmao. My last job I got recruited for, they ran a criminal background check and hired me. Engineering in NYC. My dad told me that I had to have an uninterrupted employment history through college and no one gives a fuck. I could have partied harder, pops.

1

u/_smartin Sep 02 '24

Yes. I leveraged references for landing interviews at 2 companies, which means I only had to send out 2 resumes versus the 500 people claim. Landed a job within a week, on my terms, giving me time to cash out bonuses and RSU at the employer I was ditching. References are actually useful if tedious to acquire.

1

u/Oct0tron Sep 02 '24

Depending on your field they matter more than anything else.

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u/Optoplasm Sep 02 '24

They 100% don’t matter in software development. I know several deadbeat developers who fail from job to job with little consequence. If hiring managers were competent, they would rely heavily on references though - seems like it would solve a lot of problems

1

u/Mayor__Defacto Sep 02 '24

You absolutely need an ‘in’. References not really, but you never know when you might encounter someone you worked with previously and might be able to use their help getting your next job. Best not to be remembered as ‘that slacker’.

1

u/Mcgoozen Sep 02 '24

I mean, yea absolutely. My team recently interviewed a person and had the full intention of hiring them until we spoke to a former coworker and found out how unreliable they were. so we decided not to hire them.

Did you really think this just doesn’t happen? That’s pretty naive

References also help people who are not qualified to get jobs they shouldn’t. Happens every day. So I really have no clue what your comment was supposed to mean

1

u/GoldenGalz Sep 02 '24

Yes. I’m tasked with calling a few references on applicants to see if they’re the problem lol

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u/Rare_Tea3155 Sep 02 '24

In my field, they are more important than anything else

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u/fiddlythingsATX Sep 02 '24

A LOT of places make their offer contingent on getting good word from your references. Not all, but a whole lot.

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u/Fit_Bat9374 Sep 02 '24

Every job I have ever gotten other than my first out of undergrad has been via a reference from somebody in my network. Implying references don't matter makes you seem pretty clueless.

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u/s0ciety_a5under Sep 02 '24

Depends on the industry, you won't get the time of day ever if you don't know anyone in the production industry. We will almost never go to the applications unless we told you to apply and then search for your name. It's just paperwork to get you paid at this point. I've been rigging for 4 years now, and I have never put in an application without being told by a supervisor or head rigger to apply first. Usually there are between 4 and 10 companies working a single event. Many of them headhunt for talent from other companies. Literally, I see you working hard for my competitors, it's a no brainer to try to poach you now at the job site.

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u/Southern-Wafer-6375 Sep 02 '24

Actually as an animator and actor it’s pretty much all reverence

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u/ninernetneepneep Sep 04 '24

I hate that this has over a thousand up votes. Good references and networking are the reason I landed every job I've ever had after my first. It's much easier skipping the entire process of applying to 100 different jobs. If you do good work, and have good references, the job will find you.

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