Why are 5 years of references needed?

[NinkyNonk1]

Hoping someone can help please. Asking on behalf of my DP who has been offered a new job in a better company.

They are asking for references from all employers in the last 5 years. In my experience I though it was only 2 required and 1 could be a personal one unless things have changed?

A prospective employer can ask for however many references they choose, there is nothing to say they should only ask for 2, although it is indeed common practice to ask for the past 1-2 jobs.

Nowadays references tend to be dates of employment and job title, so the only thing they are likely to gain from asking for 5 is that dates of employment tally with your DPs CV.

Has he had lots of jobs in the past 5 years?

I think it's unusual to ask for 2 years

current job I was asked for 5 years, before that, 10!

with the current job asking for 5 years, because that only meant I had one reference to show, I had to provide another. I am not sure what i would have done if i didn't have volunteer work as well.

I think the whole thing is bonkers really - this is why employers are starting to just give dates.

For my current job I had to provide contact details for every job I've ever had, proof of breaks in employment, every address I've lived at, 2 personal references etc. I think 5 years of references is quite light....

For my current job I had to provide contact details for every job I've ever had, proof of breaks in employment, every address I've lived at, 2 personal references etc. I think 5 years of references is quite light....

That sounds like you are in a role requiring security clearance, although asking for every address you've ever lived at sounds like high security government clearance. If the OPs DP is also in such a role then 5 years references could be part of that requirement.

As they haven't specified anything, it's one of those "how long is a piece of string" question, context is everything.

It’s incase you worked for oxfam in Haiti and forgot to mention it.

Perfectly normal, good practice even

daisychain yes I do have security clearance, I work in a 4 walled holiday home and can draw keys for them so it's needed for my role.

NHS employers usually require 10 years work history and 3 references for clinical roles.

All sounds a bit excessive to me. I’ve only ever had to give 2 references (from last 2 employers).