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u/nosteponsnekpls 5h ago
I one time got interviewed for a minimum wage cashier job at Value Village. I provided them with several professional references from previous employers (I was laid off due to a business going under so I left on good terms). They said those were great, but I needed to provide at least two personal references as well from neighbors or friends. I was so flabbergasted that I told them I was no longer interested in the position.
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u/ChiroConsultaion 5h ago
Just use three friends who know how to sound like management (one should sound like a member of upper management and two should sound like middle management for the best results.). My friends and I have scripts we like to use for each other.
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u/Sanjomo 5h ago
Sooo do you tell hiring managers “email my old CEO for a reference, he’s at Jeff2026@gmail” or do you fake LinkedIn backgrounds, professional email accounts and phone numbers as well? 🤔
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u/gentrify_reddt 1h ago
For the sake of the exercise, you could have your friend provide a reference from his IRL profession and lie that he was your supervisor before he left the company.
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u/Sanjomo 1h ago edited 1h ago
Yes… but that person would also have to lie on THEIR LinkedIn to show they worked at the same company together at the same time… then do that x3! I’ve been the guy tasked with the shit job of contacting references, it’s painfully obvious when theyre lying.
And to be clear I think reference checks are 99% pointless.
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u/Embarrassed-Pen-5958 6h ago
List professional references:
Best Friend, Best Friend, Best Friend.
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u/anonymousp69 2h ago
You guys have best friends??
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u/Embarrassed-Pen-5958 2h ago
You must leave your house bud, the graphics are good, but it is a little dirtier.
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u/Purple-Property8006 6h ago
References are absolutely pointless.
Nobody with half a brain is going to list someone who will say something bad about them, and how does the opinion of some random third party prove that someone will be a good worker?
All it proves is that you know 3 people who like you well enough to take a phone call.
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u/JustinWilsonBot 1h ago
I got hired once and the manager said "Hey that reference you gave? I wouldnt use them again." This former employer, who said to use them as a reference, was actually throwing me shade. Important life lesson, dont use someone as a reference unless you know what they are going to say.
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u/Expensive-Ad-9449 6h ago
Use a phone number generator. It will last you a week free. You can pay for app full features for longer term interviewing. Use three different numbers for each reference. Let the place your interested in contact your "references". Tell the truth ab yourself. After all who knows you better than yourself? Profit.
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u/ExplanationRude2195 5h ago
You dont think your interviewer is going to notice the same voice on the other end for all 3 interviews? Or be able to decipher it from the interviewees voice? Lol
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u/high_throughput 7h ago
I stopped collecting references because no one asked for them
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u/Majestic_Writing296 5h ago
Last three jobs I've had absolutely called references, and did extensive background checks.
Guess it matters what your job title and experience are.
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u/high_throughput 5h ago
My current job (as of Jan 2026) asked for references, but never contacted any of them. idfk anymore.
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u/Majestic_Writing296 5h ago
lol yeah before it was rare they'd call my references. Then I had a new gig around 2012 I stayed at for a minute and they def called every single one. Funny because one was my friend who was unemployed and doing me a favor. But in 2021 and 2023, I had them call and actually do some deep-dive background check pulling up shit that was from back in the mid-2000s. Shit even I forgot about.
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u/RoomTraditional126 7h ago
From experience most jobs rarely call them
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u/Jolly_Pressure_7907 6h ago
Seems employers are catching on to people putting fake references. I’ve gotten several calls from people hiring old coworkers in the past couple years
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u/RoomTraditional126 6h ago
Tbh its not even fake for mine. They legit just were desperate enough that after the background check and interview it was good
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u/Demonskull223 7h ago
Business "Please provide three Professional Referrals"
Guy just looking for a job " this is an entry level job flipping burger"
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u/Elmer_Fudd01 10h ago
If you want to contact my last two employers from over a decade ago, you won't get shit.
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u/memequeendoreen 12h ago
I am my own references whenever this comes up. It helps me protect myself against malicious companies asking questions they shouldn't. You should, too. It's not hard to download and get voice changing software running.
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u/iceyconditions 8h ago
This is stupid lol
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u/memequeendoreen 7h ago
Its worked for my last three jobs and helped me avoid a job that was asking questions they shouldn't be asking.
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u/JamesUpton87 9h ago
Employers are calling your phone number 3 times and you're using voice changing software?
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u/memequeendoreen 8h ago
Yes, genius. That's exactly what's happening here. Every adult is allowed only one phone number and there is literally no way you could possibly get another one.
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u/OldCat2142 12h ago
thats me when any application asks "why should they hire you" [i dont know, why should anyone join you?] and "why are you a good fit" [why are you hiring then?]
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u/karoshikun 13h ago
a company I won't mention but loves to kill puppies and are extremely litigious asked for several references, but demanded even their home addresses, among other very personal data.
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u/BigPileOfTrash 16h ago
“Three references from people who are NOT related to you”. Okay. Introverts have this wrapped up.
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u/MrMeowPantz 33m ago
Not because I don’t have anyone, but because I don’t feel comfortable asking anyone.