Attached to a job application

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

My husband's HR person brought this to him today.
It was on a resume attached to a job application. I hope you're as entertained as I am.

About references:
The people I have used for references in the past have been victimized by email, phone, and postal sales approaches fostered by prosepective employers. Certainly not all-future employers involve themselves in these practices. Nevertheless, the well has been poisoned and my contacts refuse to deluge their identity forsaking their privacy. I only know a limited amount of people and their identity is confidential.

During my job search, I have explored every entity with an employment job page four days driving time from ~@~@##$$%%~@~ . This amounts to 250 contacts. Only about 5% ask for references. After all, an employee's capabilities are important, not who they know.

Also I am self employed and am not in a business position to receive references from employers. Conversely, I have never been asked to supply a business reference to anyone.

Today's business climate of "at will" short term employment does not foster familiar relationships from which to give references.

Most institutions demand liability release waivers for processing employment applications while stipulating they offere nothing in return. No applicant finds this attractive. I am only willing to sign such agreements and disclose personal information after an offer of employment is forwarded. You must give something to get something.

[bobbysgirl]

He has references or he doesn't have references or he won't give references??? And that last line (You must give something to get something. ) is a bit desperate. BUT he is right and is at the end of his being abused rope. Desperation is a nasty thing.

Time to pass the Judge Dread blue juice.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I give him credit for a sense of humor but I'm not sure about his attitude. I've always said, "References on Request" and no one has ever asked for them.

I once had a job applicant include her SS # and her driver's license number on her resume. She was a teacher looking to change careers and the great state of Texas (at least back then) was too lazy to generate a separate # of your Teaching license, so they used the SS #. It was routine to supply your SS # and your driver's license number when you applied.

[The J]

Jan 14, 2011 7:01:24 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Yeah, I give him credit for a sense of humor but I'm not sure about his attitude. I've always said, "References on Request" and no one has ever asked for them.

I've always said references on request (with the exception of a few federal government applications). If they wanted them, they'd ask at the interview, and I'd have a list handy.

[Urban Chicago]

Wow-no way I would hire this guy. It seems like he's going out of his way to point out that he can't work with anyone!

[Opti]

I feel for the guy, but you don't send a rant to a prospective employer.

"The people I have used for references in the past have been victimized by email, phone, and postal sales approaches fostered by prosepective employers."

I have heard of this too. I just recently gave a consulting firm references and I wouldn't be surprised if future emails for jobs start going to them too. He should have phrased things better. I would have just said something like references available upon request. If possible would you be able to assure my references that they will only be contacted about my job performance as they are now gun shy due to unsolicted sales offers they have received due to my employment search.

[973beachbum]

Jan 14, 2011 10:44:09 GMT -5 Opti said:

I feel for the guy, but you don't send a rant to a prospective employer.

"The people I have used for references in the past have been victimized by email, phone, and postal sales approaches fostered by prosepective employers."

I have heard of this too. I just recently gave a consulting firm references and I wouldn't be surprised if future emails for jobs start going to them too. He should have phrased things better. I would have just said something like references available upon request. If possible would you be able to assure my references that they will only be contacted about my job performance as they are now gun shy due to unsolicted sales offers they have received due to my employment search.

Agree! I have seen people though who tried to apply for a job posting and it said all applications must be submitted online. The onile application would not let you put in available upon request. If you didn't put in what it said it wouldn't accept the application. One did require the applicants SS# type of info.

The longer this job market goes the worse I see this getting.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Yeah, I agree and sympathize with the guy. The job application/hunting process has really degraded during the last 18 months or so.
And moreso, with companies refusing to interview anyone who has been unemployed any length of time.

[Opti]

"One did require the applicants SS# type of info. "

I've seen this several times. So far, I've decided I wasn't enough of a match to want to risk giving up my SS# just to apply to a job.

[Poppet]

Interesting attachment.
He/she might be a little off kilter.
Round file time.

[kinetickid]

Jan 14, 2011 19:16:40 GMT -5 Opti said:

One did require the applicants SS# type of info.

Online, I usually put in 000-00-#### or something to fill in the blanks, just so the app can be submitted without errors. Any employer can have my SSN once I've received a job offer.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

The SS# is probably being asked for to run a credit check.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

The guy doesn't want a job. He's probably applying because his mom wants him out of the house and he promised he would apply for some jobs.

[Opti]

Jan 15, 2011 2:36:40 GMT -5 @kinetickid said:

Jan 14, 2011 19:16:40 GMT -5 Opti said:

One did require the applicants SS# type of info.

Online, I usually put in 000-00-#### or something to fill in the blanks, just so the app can be submitted without errors. Any employer can have my SSN once I've received a job offer.

I never thought to try that. SF, I spoke to one recruiter/HR person and she said they used the SS# as an employee ID so they checked to see if you were in the employee database. Some do want it up front for the credit check as well.