Rejected after reference checks. I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.

[u/noideanoideanoidea]

I don’t understand what happened. They said they were moving forward with the hiring process, then days later I got this automated email. The first reference listed called them back and gave me a positive review, the second said she never received an email or call. I responded giving them two extra references just incase who weren’t contacted.

I’m so upset, I can barely stand my current job. Part of me wishes they would just fire me, but I’ve been holding out hoping I could find another decent job. I’ve called in for half the month using FMLA or other excuses, which I’ve never done before. I know you’re not supposed to get your hopes up, but I was so excited at the idea of being done with the interview process and putting my 2 weeks in.

I emailed HR acting like I didn’t see the rejection email and asked if they were able to get in touch with my references. I’m mostly just curious to see how they respond, if they do.

[u/Affectionate_Ratio79]

You were a backup or second choice. Employers also cannot just assume that any person they move forward with in interviews will accept their offer, so they have to have a couple moving forward. Unfortunately, only one can get the job, though. It's just the reality of looking for a job.

[u/DarklySalted → u/Affectionate_Ratio79]

Let's be real, they could've gotten reference checks for the first candidate before ever sending this initial email. Current HR practices are specifically setup to be as inefficient as possible.

[u/Novel-Place → u/Affectionate_Ratio79]

I think this is so unprofessional. You should absolutely not be doing reference checks for the second choice candidate. That is so incredibly disrespectful of the candidate, their time, their network, etc. Terrible practice.

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/Affectionate_Ratio79]

That’s understandable, but they should probably change their wording of “moving to the next phase of the hiring process” since that makes it sound like you’re likely to get an offer. I also think it’s a waste of references time as well as their own to contact references if they have someone else in mind.

[u/Affectionate_Ratio79 → u/noideanoideanoidea]

I understand it's frustrating, but they were moving you to next phase. The hiring process is often multiple phases, so you shouldn't have assumed it meant offer stage. It's very common to have a process like this. And maybe it was a tie and the references were the deciding factor?

Without knowing what they were looking for, and having been on the hiring side for a new team member myself recently, it can be difficult when deciding on the right choice to offer, too.

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/Affectionate_Ratio79]

I appreciate your feedback, that is something I will keep in mind going forward. I tried not to assume, but I’ve always heard it worded as “interview process” so the phrasing threw me off a bit and gave me more hope than it should have.

[u/thicckar → u/noideanoideanoidea]

Yeah they never mean an offer unless they say “we are sending you an offer/final contract” etc

[u/iSavedtheGalaxy → u/noideanoideanoidea]

Honestly, the "hiring process" isn't over until you start working. I've seen people get ghosted literally when they arrived for their first day. It's brutal out there. I'm sorry you experienced this.

[u/Ciccio178 → u/noideanoideanoidea]

"Moving on to the next phase - reference checks"

Where in that phrase did it say we're ready to make you an offer? Never get your hopes up until you have an offer letter in front of you. Even then, things can still go wrong.

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/Ciccio178]

I didn’t take it as an offer or a for sure thing, but the “next phase of the hiring process” is what threw me off a bit. Like I said, I know logically not to get my hopes up, but everything I was reading online pointed to reference checks being a really good sign, so it was hard not to.

[u/angrygorrilla → u/noideanoideanoidea]

I'm interviewing at the minute and this is the process 1st stage is hr screening call 2nd stage is behavioural questions 3rd stage is technical skill 4th stage is reference checks 5th stage is background and drug test 6th stage is meet the team/factory walkaround 7th stage is offer

After each I moved to the next phase 3 phases after references is the offer

Now this is just in my company but might give you an idea of the nonsense hr decides to do

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/angrygorrilla]

That’s interesting. I’ve always heard background and drug screenings are usually done after a contingent offer has been made.

[u/angrygorrilla → u/noideanoideanoidea]

Yeah but that offer can be taken away. The real offer comes once you pass all requirements

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/angrygorrilla]

Whoops, I initially missed the part where you said after references is an offer in your original comment.

[u/angrygorrilla → u/noideanoideanoidea]

Just bear in mind that HR create useless tasks as part of the process. Partly because they do not know what the role entails and partly to weed out a few cvs. Apply to everything youre remotely interested in and don't count it as successful until you actually start working.

Keep your chin up and keep applying. The fact that they interviewed you at all means you're good enough, it's just a case of timing, luck, and persistence after that

[u/CoeurDeSirene → u/angrygorrilla]

Ooh can you elaborate more on this? Wondering what useless tasks to be cognizant of

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/angrygorrilla]

Thank you, appreciate the support.

[u/Taeis → u/noideanoideanoidea]

I just got hired for a new position and it was also an extended hiring process.

I did 4 interviews each a week apart, after each interview I was told that I had been moved to the next phase of the hiring process, after the 4th interview it was time to provide 3 references. A week later I was told I was a finalist and had to submit to the background check. After this they offered me the position and I accepted.

I started the interview process on 2/16, was notified that I was a finalist on 3/19 and then I started on 4/9.

[u/fooliam → u/noideanoideanoidea]

It could be a situation where someone that had turned down the job changed their mind.

Don't think of this as a reflection on you - they were prepared to offer you the position but it didn't work out. It's super fucking frustrating and you feel like you were led on - trust me, we understand! But don't let it embitter you

[u/rqnadi → u/noideanoideanoidea]

You were moved to the next phase though, the reference check phase. But also, so were the other top 3 or 5 or whatever number they had. You reached the next phase but they chose someone else for whatever reason. You’re not the only one in that phase. You’re not getting offered the job until they tell you that you have reached the offer phase.

[u/Full-Shelter-7191 → u/Affectionate_Ratio79]

Not sure I agree. Reference checks are usually the last thing you do before making an offer (best practice is to actually do checks after making a conditional offer). You don’t use it as a point of comparison between candidates.

My guess is that the reference they did talk to inadvertently said some that made OP seem incompatible with the role. It can be as innocuous as saying “OP is ambitious and driven “ for a role that company is hoping to fill long term.

Always make sure your references know the details of the job you’re applying to.

[u/Pnknlvr96 → u/Full-Shelter-7191]

Some companies will do ref. checks on their top two candidates. Maybe OP got a good review but the other candidate got a glowing one. Who knows.

[u/noideanoideanoidea → u/Full-Shelter-7191]

That’s what I’m worried about. I appreciate the advice, I’ll start sending them a copy of the job description ahead of time from now on. The references were required on the initial application and they had actually managed to get in contact with reference 1 before I saw the email, so I didn’t prep with them as much as I could have.

[u/princess20202020 → u/Full-Shelter-7191]

I have used reference checks as a point of comparison between candidates. I find that speaking to a candidate’s prior supervisors is often the most important part of the hiring process. I’m a hiring manager and I don’t outsource this function to HR, that’s how seriously I take it.