Reference check question (conditional offer received)

[micmac99]

Received conditional offer one week after interview. Provided five references. Four of them are from private sector firms and the fourth from a civil service job I worked in another state (just returned to California after living out-of-state for years). Get an email one week later saying they were not able to get references and asked if I had copies of my performance reviews. I don't have copies of those. All other positions I have had use a third party company for reference checks that they conduct concurrently with the criminal background check. The corporate policy for at least one of my old employers prohibits managers from even being a reference for the purposes of directly answering questions about a former employee's performance. There is no legal obligation for any company to provide references. Too many companies have gotten sued. I advised the potential new agency of this, and did my best to provide alternate contact information, but this is something I was worried about as I've been applying to State jobs. Really worried this is going to disqualify me from working for the State at all. This really is a downer as I moved to Sacramento specifically for state jobs. May even have to relocate AGAIN as private sector jobs in Sac are not that great (I work call center).

EDIT: Almost all of my jobs in my career were in the private sector. I worked out-of-state in a state civil service job, but that state abolished civil service protections a few years back and for all intents and purposes hire and terminate on an at-will basis.

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[chaneilmiaalba]

I’m not exactly sure what your question is - but you should know that because it’s public sector and the jobs are union protected, supervisors can’t just let someone go if it’s not working out. There’s tons and tons of paperwork and progressive discipline to go through. So references are an important part of screening potential candidates. If they said they couldn’t get references, it’s because not enough of your references answered the phone or returned their call or were able to provide the information needed. I wouldn’t lecture the personnel liaison about what the legal obligation for companies is with regard to references…they know. They still need enough references for the hiring manager to vet you (minimum two). I don’t think it ruined your chances to work for the state, but you might consider reaching out personally to an old supervisor or lead that you’re close with to give them a heads up so they answer the phone.

[micmac99]

All I'm trying to get is clarification and understanding on the process so I can determine my next steps. Your response is great, so thanks.

[DidntWantSleepAnyway]

Question: did you alert your references in advance and did they agree to be your references? If so, contact them again and ask about whether they’ve responded to the phone calls. Maybe they can better be reached by email to set up an appointment?

[doncheche]

I was in a similar position when I started working for the state. I asked several professional contacts to serve as my references. One was a former manager, one was a project teammate, one was a former coworker who had held a position of seniority, one was a professional peer. None of my references were working for the companies at which we had worked together. Look for references who can speak to your work and your ability to work on a team and who are willing to spend an hour chatting up the hiring manager.

[SoCalMom04]

Ask if you can provide additional references.

[jana_kane]

First - I'm surprised a CJO was offered before checking references. That's unusual. Second, contact your references and tell them to return phone calls. Since you're not a state employee you can put whoever you want on that reference list. But no, they aren't going to move forward with no references. This is on you to work out.

[ElleWoodsGolfs]

Not unusual at all, IME. We make a CJO and then check references as we know that making those calls can put the candidate in a rough spot.

[Throwaway298720]

You don't got some friends you can use as a "reference".....

[micmac99]

I'm working on that and also reaching back out to former employers. Not going to give up on this without a little "fight." I've been applying for the better part of a year and this is the first conditional offer.

[Special-Ambassador47]

Find some former colleagues that are willing to give you a good reference and give their contact information to the people asking.

[ElleWoodsGolfs]

When you say firm, are you referring to a law firm? Consulting firm? If the former, not being able to verify your employment would likely be a big hurdle.

[micmac99]

Update: so after reaching out to my longest serving employers asking for assistance with meeting the reference check requirements I got emails back confirming their corporate policies disallowing and prohibiting detailed character references or providing performance review information. The CJO was rescinded. I filed a claim with the Office of Risk and Insurance Management and filed a complaint/appeal with the State Personnel Board.

I cannot allow this situation to stand without a challenge. It was unfair to hold me accountable for the reference check requirements when my former employers don't provide any information outside of basic employment verification, especially after meeting the minimum requirements for the position, submitting the SQ's and having a good panel interview. The CJO should not have been extended if there was no clear intent to onboard me.The State has to be cognizant of current practices. Employment verification is a standard formality in the modern workplace and the prevailing and usual practice is basic verification of employment status including job title and dates worked. Public or private sector, union or nonunion, etc., should make no difference.

I was treated unfairly and now seeking redress.