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Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

kvonhorn.github.io

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Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#51

Post by cncrnd »

ageitgey wrote: post #37
patorjk wrote: post #16

> I do know that my manager called me up pissed off about the phone call he’d received, and told me to not use him as a reference in the future. It's also important for your references to know that they're your references ahead of time. You may think you have a good relationship with someone only to discover that they aren't a reliable positive reference. People also don't like being caught off guard.

This is so important! Story time: I once hired someone as a Mid/Senior Dev at a large company in SV who had strong dev skills. Everything seemed great at first and we were very excited to have this person join the team. I respected this dev and had no personal issues with them. Our interactions were positive. However this person quit suddenly after maybe two weeks because they didn't like having to justify their tech…

Eh. He probably just didn't like the team/felt that they didn't know what they were doing/they wasted more time on meetings and discussion in general rather than him just not wanting to justify his approach.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#53

Post by magic_beans »

trevor-e wrote: post #49
ageitgey wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is so important! Story time: I once hired someone as a Mid/Senior Dev at a large company in SV who had strong dev skills. Everything seemed great at first and we were very excited to have this person join the team. I respected this dev and had no personal issues with them. Our interactions were positive. However this person quit suddenly after maybe two weeks because they didn't like having to justify their tech…

Are you legally allowed to mention that? I thought references could only verify if you worked for the company, or otherwise risk being sued. Maybe that's a myth? Regardless, it's pretty odd he would put your company down as a reference after only staying two weeks.

References can say whatever they want.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#54

Post by JavaAndChill »

dm319 wrote: post #46

How do people deal with present employers becoming aware that you may be looking for another position? Do people hide it (hold references back until a job offer, or give previous employment references) or allow their employer to know?

Don’t ever let your employer know. If they know you’re not loyal, but don’t find a better job or decide to stay for some other reason, you’re always going to be the one who gets the least trust, the worst projects (you might be gone soon anyway, right?) or even be the one who gets fired if someone has to go.

Another reason why you shouldn’t give references that early.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#55

Post by mikec3010 »

NetOpWibby wrote: post #21

I wish I knew this eons ago. I’m sure there are some good ones...somewhere. But, FUCK RECRUITERS.

I like them. I'm a naturally lazy person, and filling out redundant information on Taleo forms for each job I apply to, only to be ghosted or called 6 weeks later is worse than dealing with recruiters who actively gain from getting me hired. Most of the ones I've worked with were friendly and followed up with me immediately about my standing. The only proviso is that their interests aren't aligned with mine regarding salary and start date. So you have to be assertive. I don't even see the problem with giving them a couple leads.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#56

Post by heyyyouu »

Pxtl wrote: post #26
wonderwonder wrote: post #5

I got an email from a local recruiter a few weeks ago and stepped outside during my lunch break to give her a call. On the initial phone call she asked me where I worked currently. After the call I stepped back into my work where I sit back to back with my manager. No more than 5 minutes later his phone rings, its the recruiter calling to see if they have any need of her services. I emailed her while he was on the ph…

... is there Yelp for recruiters? Because I'd want to know a recruiter pulls stunts like that before I work with them.

This is a fantastic idea.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#57

Post by gav »

ageitgey wrote: post #37
patorjk wrote: post #16

> I do know that my manager called me up pissed off about the phone call he’d received, and told me to not use him as a reference in the future. It's also important for your references to know that they're your references ahead of time. You may think you have a good relationship with someone only to discover that they aren't a reliable positive reference. People also don't like being caught off guard.

This is so important! Story time: I once hired someone as a Mid/Senior Dev at a large company in SV who had strong dev skills. Everything seemed great at first and we were very excited to have this person join the team. I respected this dev and had no personal issues with them. Our interactions were positive. However this person quit suddenly after maybe two weeks because they didn't like having to justify their tech…

I’ll second this for a different set of reasons.

Firstly, if you talk to your reference about the position you are applying for they will be in a better position to give meaningful feedback. I’ve been able to take somebody from a “maybe” to a hire because I knew how their interview went and their perceived weaknesses.

Secondly, you want to make sure that the person isn’t just going to be cold called—ideally they can set up a time over email so it’s at a good time. One time, while checking my reference the company called and somebody else picked up their phone as they weren’t in. They then proceeded to tell them that they’ve never heard of me and that I didn’t ever work there.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#58

Post by cimmanom »

CM30 wrote: post #14
Naritai wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you've been working at a large company for several years, there may be very few people outside your company who know your work well enough to give a meaningful reference. Then, you can't give a manager's name, since they will almost certainly tell your own manager what is going on. That leaves only your co-workers.

Oh, you're talking about someone applying for a job and using a reference from their current company. I always thought people used references from companies they don't work at anymore.

Or your references might be a manager from your previous position plus a co-worker from a previous position plus a manager from the position before that. The co-worker from the previous position might end up being recruited.

That said, if my reference applied for the same position as me and got it, whatever, more power to them, and I probably wasn't going to get it anyway. There are enough jobs out there for both of us, and I'd rather at least know that one went to someone I like.

Re: Don't Provide Your References to a Recruiter Until After Your Last Interview

#59

Post by JavaAndChill »

tormeh wrote: post #52
NetOpWibby wrote: post #21

I wish I knew this eons ago. I’m sure there are some good ones...somewhere. But, FUCK RECRUITERS.

A bit of nuance: The ones in Germany are seriously good, in my experience.

I used to be one in Germany, and trust me: there’s stuff going on you don’t want to know. Calls being recorded without your knowledge, zero respect for data privacy, recruiters sending out your CV without your knowledge (if they’re incompetent even to your own employer) - I’ve seen it all.
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