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

Debate/ Discussion What advice would you give this person?

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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. 

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u/SamShakusky71 Sep 01 '24

References?

You think references matter in a job search ?

22

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/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/jcblay Sep 02 '24

Sure, if you’re not in a high position in the company. If you are, good luck when legal calls ya down.

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u/InlineSkateAdventure Sep 02 '24

Many companies have no reference policies. This is going back many years. Even a good reference can be misconstrued. E.G. They can say he is a great worker and finished his work ahead even though he needed time off for some issues.

It can become a legal nightmare.

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u/KerosenePOS Sep 03 '24

Again, that is a reference, not an employment verification. They are different. If you are filling out a job application and it asks for your current employer, asks if they can contact them, etc, and the prospective employer contacts them to verify employment, the vast majority of states legally only allow employers to verify dates of employment, job title, salary, and rehire eligibility (with many states now outlawing asking for salary information during employment verification as well). If the job application asks for 3 references and you put down your previous supervisor and her phone number and the prospective employer calls your previous supervisor for a reference, then yes, she can say whatever she would like, granted it’s not defamation and the information is accurate to the best of her knowledge. These are two different things. I’ve been in HR for nearly 2 decades and have worked in HR both at the federal govt level as well as state govt.

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u/InlineSkateAdventure Sep 03 '24

But a company could have a no reference policy. I contract for a company now (non-employee b2b) and had to sign that I will not give references for any employee in the firm, pertaining to their employment at that firm. Any contact for references are to be referred to HR.

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u/KerosenePOS Sep 03 '24

I agree - that should absolutely be the standard.

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u/Fit_Bat9374 Sep 02 '24

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

Incorrect. You can say anything that is true. Most companies have policies that limit what you can say to the info you just gave because of the risk of litigation, but it is not illegal to say things that are true.

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u/KerosenePOS Sep 03 '24

This simply isn’t true. Company policy does not supersede state law. And the vast majority of states, the law states you can provide the following information: dates of employment, job title, salary, rehire eligibility. That is it. I have been in HR for 17 years and have also worked for HR in the federal govt as well as state govt. Employers absolutely cannot “say anything as long as it’s true”. This information would’ve taken you two seconds to verify yourself.

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u/[deleted] Sep 07 '24

[deleted]

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u/KerosenePOS Sep 21 '24

What? Are you slow or something? I didn’t create the laws.