Are references ever actually contacted?

[TianjinNVhai]

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1. Someone told me references you listed on resume are like never contacted, is that true ? (I'm P4 and only interested in retail- yeah, I know, I just can't stand the long boring days at hospitals)
2. Would letters of recommendations help when applying for retail jobs?
3. How many references should I list on my resume? I have 6 preceptors/bosses that I really trust and I am sure they're all gonna give me a really good reference. There is this other boss/pharmacist who agreed to give me a good reference but for some reason, I don't trust her 100%. Should I go ahead and just list the 6 pharmacists that I really trust or is it "the more the better"?

 

[PA_dud3]

1. Someone told me references you listed on resume are like never contacted, is that true ? (I'm P4 and only interested in retail- yeah, I know, I just can't stand the long boring days at hospitals)
2. Would letters of recommendations help when applying for retail jobs?
3. How many references should I list on my resume? I have 6 preceptors/bosses that I really trust and I am sure they're all gonna give me a really good reference. There is this other boss/pharmacist who agreed to give me a good reference but for some reason, I don't trust her 100%. Should I go ahead and just list the 6 pharmacists that I really trust or is it "the more the better"?

I've always heard three professional references. Idk, I dont think my references have ever been contacted. It's nice to see on there, but I'd still make sure the reference is likely to give you a good report.

 

[Lnsean]

I've been contacted a few times (maybe like 4 times in the last 8 years or so)...one was a survey I had to fill online regarding the applicant...the other times it was just a brief 5 minute conversation. They all got hired. Just make sure whoever you list will honestly speak about you in a positive way...not necessarily the ones who have the better job title.

 

[owlegrad]

I have never been contacted personally and none of my references have ever reported to me being contacted. When I first started as a hiring manager I contacted references until I realized what a total waste of time it was and quickly stopped.

Obviously you can never KNOW if your references will be contacted so of course plan as though you expect them to be.

 

[bacillus1]

When I interviewed for my current job, the first thing that came out of my interviewer's mouth before she asked me any other questions was "I already contacted your residency director". For my last job, I had to provide several references who had to fill out surveys. So yes, they are sometimes contacted.

 

[UGAZ]

Hospital inpatient positions are very often got contacted. I have been contacted many times when people asked me as their reference. Also, when I applied for a per diem, my reference was contacted and asked many questions.

 

[Amicable Angora]

In my experience, the majority of the time references are not contacted (50-70%) of the time.

In the (50-30%) times they are contacted, about 1/2 of the conversations were very short, <5 minute conversations. Mostly just to check the reference was a real person who actually knew me and had positive things to say about me.

In the other 1/2 of the conversations, they were longer 5 to 15 minute conversations asking in depth questions. Didn't happen too often.

 

[DrVader]

1. Someone told me references you listed on resume are like never contacted, is that true ? (I'm P4 and only interested in retail- yeah, I know, I just can't stand the long boring days at hospitals)
2. Would letters of recommendations help when applying for retail jobs?
3. How many references should I list on my resume? I have 6 preceptors/bosses that I really trust and I am sure they're all gonna give me a really good reference. There is this other boss/pharmacist who agreed to give me a good reference but for some reason, I don't trust her 100%. Should I go ahead and just list the 6 pharmacists that I really trust or is it "the more the better"?

It depends on the employer, some only ask because it is a big red flag if you can't list references. In addition, the person doing the hiring don't know if you just listed your friends (remember the Seinfeld episode?) However, my current employer called and had a 15 minutes chat with one of my references. Don't put them down if you don't trust them.

 

[wazoodog]

The references I have put down were usually contacted. Nowadays, it seems that many HR depts outsource this to agencies that specialize in contacting references and going through a more thorough procedure of asking questions related to your past performance. Sometimes, even people I didn't list as a reference were contacted if the hiring manager happened to know people at a past job I listed on my CV. Definitely put down references that will speak positively about you, are able to articulate what qualities they appreciated, and would say they like to work with you again.

 

[297point1]

It is professional malpractice to not contact references when hiring someone.

Yes, it is largely a dog and pony show...but you need to do it anyways on the 10% chance that you might learn something useful about the candidate and the 2% chance you might learn something that would prevent you from hiring that person.

 

[Invokanyetnyet]

For the job I have now (staff pharmacist, rural hospital, night shift), I gave three references, and two of them were contacted.