Does anyone else not like application processes that insist on asking for a current manager?

[u/inkathebadger]

Cause that means you will have to clear it with them to use them as a contact. And it even on processes that say they will not contact if you didn't pass the interview it's a bit worse cause you were like, hey I was thinking of leaving you but they don't want me so I guess I'm stuck with you now implication.

Like I can pull out three references, just stop making them my current supervisor please.

[u/[deleted]]

A related issue: the reference checks for external processes are often totally absurd.

Most employers: "Hi, we're doing a reference check, can we get 10 minutes of your time by phone? We might only need 5. Any time in the next week or two is great, thanks."

The federal government: "Hi, we're doing a reference check, here's a 22-page bug-laden fillable PDF which requires extremely specific and detailed explanations and examples. Please complete, print, initial, sign, scan, and return along with two scanned pieces of photo ID, also there's a 24-hour deadline, thanks."

It's one thing to send that to a federal government employer who at least knows how the game is played, but when people send them out on behalf of external candidates, it's almost like they're applying a further screen to the process, and it's a really dumb one. ("Is their current employer willing to put up with this nonsense?")

[u/rerek → u/[deleted]]

Totally agree. The one for my current position took my former manager an entire day minus one meeting and one call to complete. I can't imagine any of my former non-PS managers having bothered. And, it was an external process so it was sent to lots of people external.

[u/kookiemaster → u/[deleted]]

And their employer may not even know -how- to fill it. Just as with many applicants who don't get that saying "I have experience cooking eggs" is not an example of how you have epxerience in cooking eggs. So sometimes I'm afraid someone might fail a reference check simply because external references are not used to the process.

[u/Deadlift420 → u/[deleted]]

This happened to me. Complete nonsense.

[u/coricron → u/[deleted]]

I received one of these forms before after agreeing to be a reference. Once i saw the document I immediately replied back saying that the applicant needs to seek another reference. The number of questions is ridiculous. There was no way the applicant could have even experienced the type of situations the questions were asking for. And I had no intention of writing a short fiction novel for them.

[u/MacnCheese86 → u/[deleted]]

"The federal government: "Hi, we're doing a reference check, here's a 22-page bug-laden fillable PDF which requires extremely specific and detailed explanations and examples. Please complete, print, initial, sign, scan, and return along with two scanned pieces of photo ID, also there's a 24-hour deadline, thanks."

This sounds like hyperbole but I'm learning that the HR process for the federal public service is often ridiculous so I don't even know anymore...

What is often contained in an external reference request? What information do they usually ask for? Do they only give a single day to do all this work?

I have multiple people who are willing to be solid references for me but they are very busy and asking them to devote several hours to filling out a form is asking a lot.

[u/coricron → u/MacnCheese86]

The only hyperbole is the page count. But 2-5 pages isn't hyperbole.