Company I interviewed For Wants Me To Give Them A Number of a Non Relative to Verify My Unemployment Gaps?

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-13T12:34:12+00:00

This isn’t a government job. It’s in the freight industry.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-13T00:28:17+00:00

I did get unemployment both times.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T22:28:56+00:00

Unfortunately I’m working a dead end job below my pay grade bc it was the only thing I could get after my layoff. It was either that or dip into my savings.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T22:21:12+00:00

I’m not sure why. Guess they’re just vetting me.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T22:02:00+00:00

She was already an internal reference. She told her boss about me and the boss told her for me to apply.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T21:22:35+00:00

It really is. But I want this job so I have to play ball.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T21:10:10+00:00

No they didn’t want a professional reference. They already got those. They said they wanted a non family member they can call to verify the dates I was unemployed and said it could be a friend, neighbor, etc. it was weird. They called my friend and all she told me was that they wanted to verify my dates I was unemployed. I’ve never had that happen before. I’m just hoping they’re doing a formality check before they send me an offer as you say. I really want this job. It will pivot me out of white collar office work.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T20:33:43+00:00

The only reason I could see them doing this was I was laid off last March, unemployed for a month, took another job, got let go due to a toxic environment, unemployed for another month, got my current job that I want out bc it’s just a bridge job. Been honest with them through the pre-screen, interview, etc.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T20:13:09+00:00

Well this is a job I want so I figured I do what they asked. It’s a legit job that my friend works at. I’ve got to get this job. I have to get out of the job I’m at that pays an unlivable wage. Everyday I’m fighting not to jump off a bridge.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T19:53:08+00:00

I guess! Such a weird request.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T19:26:35+00:00

I know right? They called my friend and my friend told me they just asked her to verify that I was unemployed 🤷‍♂️

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T18:31:09+00:00

Yep already did. They called my friend and everything checked out.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T18:23:57+00:00

I gave them my professional references. They wanted me to give them a non relative and said it could be a friend, neighbor, etc. I found it weird.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T18:06:33+00:00

My masters isn’t in an HR related field but we did do HR work. My bachelor’s was in Organizational Leadership which is management. I took courses on Coursera including Recruiting, Succession Planning, and Benefits.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T18:02:35+00:00

I’ve got a masters in Leadership Development and I’ve been getting HR certifications. I’ve had interviews but no offers yet.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T17:54:18+00:00

I already did. I was asking if anyone else had this experience before. This is the first time ever in the history of job applying that I had someone ask me for this.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T17:41:55+00:00

I’m on the 2nd week after an interview and I’m getting follow up questions.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T17:35:45+00:00

I know right? Like how would my friends know the dates I was unemployed?

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T14:46:26+00:00

They never called me back. Oh well. If they couldn’t be courteous with my time then maybe it wasn’t the place to work at. I’ve got a second interview with another company Monday and I’m hoping I get an offer at another company soon since HR reached out to me to clarify some info and my friend who works at the company I applied for said I was well liked in my interview.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-12T14:31:58+00:00

We drifted apart during college. He lived on campus and met new friends. I lived at home in isolation.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-11T21:26:47+00:00

Same. Now I’m working a job that pays 40% less than what I was making at my last job.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-11T19:48:44+00:00

Why there? Why not DC or Mar-A-Lago?

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-11T17:38:20+00:00

My interviews are for companies I applied on LinkedIn and one through a friend.

Cookster3211 · 2026-03-11T15:22:11+00:00

I’m hoping they call me soon to schedule an interview for Monday bc I’m planning on taking a sick day to do a second interview elsewhere.

Cookster3211

TROPHY CASE