To think people should ask (or at least tell!) before listing my name as a referee!

[Jinsei]

I respond to lots of reference requests. I am happy to do this generally, but isn't it common courtesy to at least mention it to the referee before listing their name?

I have received three reference requests in the last two days from people who worked for me on short term casual contracts two or three years ago! I have heard nothing from any of them since. AIBU to think that they could have at least dropped me a line to say that they have put my name down on the form?

Or am I just being a grumpy cow?

I have written the references anyway. Grudgingly.

YANBU, no.

It's very rude to put someone down as a referee without asking them first. Everyone knows that!

In courses that help people hone their job seeking skills, including job applications and c.v. writing.. I instruct an etiquette of not putting any individual's details prior to references being taken up (which is altogether another stage in the process from the application of course), and only to supply those details once agreement reached that it will be ok with the referee! Each applicant that does this without the courtesy of even requesting this of the referee, jeopardises their application, and is VERY unprofessional. You are not required to supply, and if you do, only need do very little, which does not help an applicant's progression... there is no point getting a reference without full acquiesence from the referee anyway.. very risky!

Rude. Very rude. And a bit stupid.

I don't know, I always just put my previous managers on. The last one I worked for 2 years ago, wouldn't think twice of just putting her name down. But then I've always worked in retail and these just get sent on to head office to send out a generic one anyway. Guess it depends on your field?

Yes, stupid indeed, as I'm hardly well disposed to write a flowing reference for them in these circumstances.

In any case, I always wonder what on earth they have been doing (or not doing) since leaving my employment, if they have to rely on a reference for casual work 3 years ago!

Sadly our HR won't deal with them here, stuntgirl. I wouldn't really mind, but given the volume of these requests, they take a fair bit of time. I just think it's rude not to ask.

The best thing to do is to get a written reference when you leave your job so that you have it for future applications. That's what I always did many moons ago when I worked.

YANBU. I just had to get a reference from someone I hadn't seen for 20 years - of course I emailed him first to ask.

Well it depends I would think - on my CV, for each job I have listed what I did, who my manager was, the business address and phone number. So anyone with my CV could contact these people without my knowing.

However, usually job applications ask you separately for references, so because I know these particular people will likely be contacted, I tell them I'm putting them down.

The one I've always wondered about is your current manager - say you are looking for a new job, but you don't really want your current employer to know you are trying to leave. A job you are applying to requests that your current manager be listed for contact. Do you then tell the current manager??? I never want to so don't! But then they are really surprised when they get an email...hmm...

YANBU. Of course you ask. Well, sometimes it's more "tell" than ask, depending on the exact circumstances, but yes, you let the referee know. And thank them for agreeing (or "agreeing") to help.

people actually 'tell' previous managers that they have publicised their name and contact detail, for the own benefit!!!.. and 'publicise' is what it is, when one fills their c.v. with a litanny of names and contact details.. so some poor unsuspecting manager will get 'put on the spot', and be required to recall 'an' employee of the dim distant past.. again, VERY risky strategy for someone who really wants a good reference...aside from being very impolite, and I'd definitely recommend using such valuable CV space for far higher priority information than contact details of every job (which interested parties could look up if they were really needed, but are not).

Damsel some of the references I've supplied have been very specific (looking at the job description, hoe well does the candidate fit? Etc) so a generic one would be no good

BTW.. it is usual practice for references to be taken up independently by the referencer, because it is beholden upon the refreee to provide the information requested as required for the role, prewritten references held by the applicant cannot offer this, and are no guarantee of authenticity, not widely acceptable.

I've always asked people if they mind being referees on my CV, usually when I've left the job. I've not necessarily re-contacted them again later, to check it's still ok. But they always get asked in the first place - it would be dreadfully rude not to even ask.

This pisses me off too.

I write on average about 20-30 reference a year.
I can't write a decent reference without an up-to-date CV and information about the job/course that is being applied for.

Maybe I just take it all too seriously and should start sending out generic references.

(or just do what my uni tutor did which was to make students write their own reference and then (if you were lucky) sign them).

heavy reliance on somebody falling in line could result in a very embarrassing 'no' upon request, and ooops, its too late then!!

The last post I applied for required me to give two references,which I did. It also obviously required my employment history. The company to which I had applied rang me to ask for the phone number of a group I had worked for 6 years previously, who I had NOT put down as a reference.

I had to ring them quick smart and tell them to expect a call. I assured them I had not just cheekily put them down as a reference, it would appear that the company was checking my ENTIRE work history!

I always ask but I only ask once, I don't ask for every job application, is that wrong? (if its been a couple of years I ask again mainly to check if the manager is still there)

I think its ok if you ask the relevant people at the time you in the round of applications, but references are taken up at the point that you are successful in interview, or should be. I am hesitant to offer too much detail about previous company info, based on your experience RAFFLE of such aggressive tactics. Can someone in employmnet law answer this question of whether details about an ex-employee are allowed to be shared without said ex-employees implicit authorisation to do so? No ringing either, this should be written official communication. Any one of us could ring and say we are the head honcho at microsoft and want to know about 'samson/delila's' personal work record, no decent company would part with such information without consent and to an unknown.

I put the names down, but I ALWAYS tick the box that says they cannot contact the person without my say-so - which means that if they get to the stage of taking up the references I can email my referees and say they may get asked for a ref about me and would they mind awfully etc etc etc.

I hate the idea a potential employer could just contact someone without me having had the chance to a) assess if I really want the job enough and b) forewarn the referees.

It's really rude not to ask. I would write a "generic" reference and just fill in the blanks (X was employed as a Y from - to - and their work was satisfactory at all times) kind of thing and just trot it out for those who have reached job seeking age without acquiring basic manners!