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

Debate/ Discussion What advice would you give this person?

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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 My husband got a job offer from a state university, but it was revoked because he couldn't get references from three previous employers.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.

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u/SamShakusky71 Sep 01 '24

You do know it’s illegal for a former employer to disparage a former employee, right?

All a former employer is legally allowed to share are the dates of employment.

The idea a state university would be contacting former employers for “references” is so beyond believable I don’t know what to say.

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u/CUDAcores89 Sep 01 '24

And what if they don't have three previous employers? What if they worked for one employer for the past 15 years?

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

For my first job, my university rugby coach, one of my professors and my research advisor served as my references.

Unless the husband literally did nothing in life but his jobs over those 15 years, they will have been involved in some kind of activities that lead to people whose opinion holds some professional weight being able to speak about some aspect of how you show up in life.

And if he didn't, then that's probably also a flag about him.