Do HR recruiters bother contacting overseas referees?

[simonvee]

Hi all,

Something has occurred to me. Do HR recruiters bother contacting (i.e. phonecall) overseas referees? Surely, all it takes is a phonecall and the HR recruiter would be talking to your previous employer or referee. However, what if your employer is from the other side of the world? Not only is the phonecall expensive but the time zone is the opposite (day vs night). I am thinking in that case a recruiter may want to email. Then maybe in that case when looking at the CV of a foreign worker, I recruiter will think 'why should I bother with them...such a hassle to call or email etc, I wouldn't bother shortlisting those candidates'.

What do ya'll think?

 

[thezieglers]

No. They don't bother at all.

 

[Canadian Career Coach]

I've done a lot of reference calls and calling overseas has never stopped me from making the call. Many HR people are being very thorough. They will investigate past employers and they are taking Educational reference checking very seriously. Many people exaggerate on their education and so checking that you completed your diploma/degrees has become very common place. There are a few US companies with Canadian operations that hire reference screening companies who do extensive background/reference checks.

General rule is never exaggerate or embellish on your resume or in the interview. If something is uncovered after you're hired that is false the company can release you so always be honest.

 

[simonvee]

That's good to hear that they actually call your references. But my concern is me living in Australia with opposite times to Canada. Thus, if an employer wants make a phone call out to my former employer, they have to do so from 10pm to 6am Toronto time for example. In that case I think they would send an email. A very thorough email I suppose. Kinda sux if the employer doesnt work for that company anymore, therefore would not have access to that email address.

 

[Canadian Career Coach]

To be very honest, if I was considering you as serious contender for the position and you were on my short-list, the time change wouldn't bother me. I would want to know I'm hiring the right person and will call your references regardless of where they are. If I have to call 10p.m. my time to get a reference, I'll do it. It's a small inconvenience vs hiring the wrong person and learing later I could have avoided a problem if I'd only made one, 30minute call at 10p.m.

While emails are okay, as someone who does reference calls I want to 'hear' someones voice and how they respond to my questions on the spot. Responding to an email allows you too much time to 'think' about the perfect answer, or come up with an answer that may avoid my real question. I put only medium value on any written reference. Live, verbal references are the only way to do it properly.

 

[clubcanada]

You can provide an email address for oversea references - preferably a company email address rather than a private one. This is absolutely common and sufficient. many non-native english speaking references appreciate this communication channel anyway...

 

[abelkwh]

Employers will not bother to call yr previous references if they are overseas. They will only contact those in N. America, specifically in Canada only. Some may contact those through email for overseas references but only a minority will do that.

 

[Cdn28]

That wasn't my experience. I had a previous employer in the UK and they wanted their contact info to do a reference check. Because the company had folded and I didn't keep in contact with my former boss (which I've now learnt I should do), they told me they couldn't proceed further with the interview. They gave me a few chances to find a number, but I couldn't track it down, so I know they really wanted me. I know make sure all my important references are logged, or part of my LinkedIn network.

 

[clubcanada]

That wasn't my experience. I had a previous employer in the UK and they wanted their contact info to do a reference check. Because the company had folded and I didn't keep in contact with my former boss (which I've now learnt I should do), they told me they couldn't proceed further with the interview. They gave me a few chances to find a number, but I couldn't track it down, so I know they really wanted me. I know make sure all my important references are logged, or part of my LinkedIn network.

same here. had to provide contact info for all references from continental europe - at least email address. and all references were contacted...