Ask HN: Any way around not using current CTO as a job reference?

5 points by Djrichsjdjdnxkd 3 years ago | 9 comments

My last gig was a startup. CTO recruited and hired me promising ownership of product and minimal micromanaging.

Everything went well for a couple of months, but it went crazy in 2022.

Basically, the CTO gets distracted with anything new and flashy. He sees some new language or framework, we wants us to build a prototype with it. If a competitor has a certain feature, he wants us to add it. He is willing to change priorities to make those kinds of things happen, but they are almost always unproductive and a waste of engineering time. My team and and I aren't being set up for success.

Eventually, I was let go and was replaced by an employee who used to work for me and who is perfectly willing to do whatever the CTO demands.

Now, I'm starting to look for my next gig. I imagine prospective employers will want to talk to my previous CTO as a job reference. That will not go well.

Is there something I can offer in place of a CTO reference check?

OrangeMonkey 3 years ago |

1 - noone is going to ask you about references.

2 - if someone does, list a peer of yours that you maintain good relations with.

3 - but seriously, noone is going to ask.

luckman212 3 years ago | |

Why not? Is it passé to list references on a CV now?

quantified 3 years ago |

You could use any employees as a reference. In my experience, references are always checked and you should have an idea of what they'll say or don't use them.

When I'm a reference, I'm always asked about a set of things the employer has in mind and it always varies. Never just "did he work here". That's the HR reference check, which happens because you listed the prior employer.

A couple of times I've gotten a rough transcript of what my references said about me. Not every checking agency/process does that. I was blown away by some of the kudos I received, thankfully.

aynyc 3 years ago | |

Are you in the US? I went thru several HR training, on the subject of giving reference, our HR consultant lawyer was very explicit about what you can and can not say. For example, you can't say they missed a lot of days of work, because they might have medical reason for it. On the subject of asking for reference, you can only ask to verify what's on the resume. For example, did this person work on the project, etc..

paulcole 3 years ago | | |

There’s a huge gulf between what an HR consultant says people should say/ask and what people actually are willing to say/ask. I got told “Don’t ask candidates what they do for fun…” I’m not willing to be that boring during an interview and it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

quantified 3 years ago | | |

I'm in the US and I've never heard a whisper on that topic. I can answer whatever questions I want, I don't soeak on behalf of the company.

Personal references are personal. Your HR lawyer was either talkjng about some specific company reference, or was spouting the same nonsense as when the NFL says that any accounts of the televised game are strictly prohibited.

dexwiz 3 years ago |

References now should pretty much be limited to: they worked here? Yes/No. There are all sorts of liability reasons why recruiters don't want to know more, and people don't want to say more.

FrenchDevRemote 3 years ago |

>Now, I'm starting to look for my next gig. I imagine prospective employers will want to talk to my previous CTO as a job reference. That will not go well.

Not necessarily.Tell the truth, the whole truth. If they want contact him, you could get a decent/neutral reference, or if it's bad at least the recruiter knows what to expect, and can try to see if it ads up with what you said.

I rarely needed to give references for a job anyway. you can definitely get a job without any kind of reference check if the interviews went well and they like you

Jugurtha 3 years ago |

The people who worked with me slayed dragons and made me better in every way. I insist that if they ever want a reference, not that they need any, they just put me on the phone with a prospective employer and I'll tell them who the fuck they're asking about.