# Job References? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594 "2010-07-13T21:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/1 "2010-07-13T21:35:53Z")
What kind of people make good job references? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/2 "2010-07-13T21:47:24Z")
Your boss is best. Your immediate colleagues next. If you’re applying for a management position, then a former underling. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/3 "2010-07-13T22:03:16Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Your boss is best. Your immediate colleagues next. > > If you’re applying for a management position, then a former underling. And for non-co-workers? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/4 "2010-07-13T22:23:58Z")
a former teacher or professor would be a good reference ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/5 "2010-07-13T22:54:27Z")
Professional References: Immediate Supervisor or coworkers Note: Many firms prohibit references to basically employment date confirmations, and nothing more. If you are able to get a direct supervisor on line, they may offer some additional info in an “off the record” mode. Most important question: **Would you rehire for a similar position**. Personal References: Rarely given much gravity ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/6 "2010-07-14T02:59:41Z")
You should also not use a family member as a reference. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/7 "2010-07-14T03:01:42Z")
I’ve always thought references to be somewhat silly. Naturally you’re going to choose someone who will speak kindly of you. Prospective employers should just check with previous supervisors if they want to know something. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/8 "2010-07-14T03:44:21Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ve always thought references to be somewhat silly. Naturally you’re going to choose someone who will speak kindly of you. One would think so, but that’s clearly not the case. I’ve been in the recruiting biz since the early 80s and people list references assuming they’ll only say positive things - which is not true a larger % of the time than one would think. > [@](#): > > Prospective employers should just check with previous supervisors if they want to know something. As I stated before, most large corporations have policies in place that prohibit supervisors from giving any type of reference (on the record). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/9 "2010-07-14T05:46:51Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > And for non-co-workers? Depending on the company, your pastor or the volunteer coordinator at the non-profit you help out with can be good. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/10 "2010-07-14T14:35:21Z")
On my list of job references, I also have former co-workers. This is especially handy when I don’t want my current employer knowing that I’m looking or don’t want to put current colleagues on the spot. If you’ve done any contracting or volunteering, you might have some references there too. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-references/546594/11 "2010-07-14T15:58:46Z")
If you have copies of really glowing reviews, can you use them somehow? StG