I'm looking for some guidance on reference checks. I once had a potential employer call Cisco to confirm my employment dates. I ended up taking a different job but I ran into this person recently. We talked about the reference check process. She said that when she called the Cisco number she was bounced around and put on hold to the tune of 30 minutes. That's inexcusable. Does anyone know what number to call for reference checks, or is this the "Cisco disco"? I'm really pissed off that they can't even route a call properly.
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Some require it as a formality. I'm with you, though. There's enough info in social that you don't really need formal reference checks. But when I need a job, I'm willing to put up with someone making a reference call. What I'm not willing to put up with is a former employer giving people the runaround when it's still standard procedure to do a reference check. That they can't even handle that without issue is really telling.
Reference check calls to a company are stupid and a waste of everyone's time. Get real....this is the professional world. If you truly don't trust a potential employee, then don't hire them. Period. If you actually like a candidate and they have demonstrated the required skills, save everyone some time and money....skip it.
That's all I want is for them confirm that I worked there. I have plenty of references from there and other places. Thanks!
Cisco does not provide references, they will only confirm date of employment from X to Y and you held positions during this period. Nothing more , nothing less, nothing good and nothing bad!
The perspective employer needs to write to Cisco HR and they will send the standard doc that I mentioned above.
Thanks for the info! Very helpful. I can only imagine the taste it leaves in the reference checkers' mouths to be batted around like that. It doesn't look good for the candidate, either. Very frustrating, but I think this info will help! Thanks again.
Call the HRC at 866-282-3866. They will be able to route you to Cisco 3rd party employment verification hotline. Cisco will provide your employment dates and title. They will only give your salary if you provide them with a signed release or pin.
Personal/professional reference on the other hand is up to your contact.
Hope this helps.
I would suspect that the department that handles that is overwhelmed. With all the layoffs and voluntary departures call volume has probably expanded exponentially for the few people left charged with taking those calls. Just another brilliant piece of operational planning and foresight by a totally incompetent management team...