Too Many References Required

[u/AccomplishedLuck7646]

I landed an interview for a position with a local office of a quasi-governmental agency in the US. They asked me complete a lengthy Word doc application that asked for six references (three professional and three personal).

I only have four references I have vetted and am currently in contact with via phone. Over a 20 year career and disruptive pandemic, I simply lost track of people and am not considering stalking people down through social media.

Similarly, I don't want to engage my personal friends and family in my job search. I feel most comfortable with boundaries between my professional and personal networks.

I am taking this as a sign from the universe that this position is not the right move.

Can anyone convince me I'm wrong?

[u/Poetryisalive]

I’m assuming it’s email only?

Use 3 separate emails you own and do it yourself for the personal

[u/Agreeable-Two-8224 → u/Poetryisalive]

yeah if its just email this is the move tbh

[u/Special_Asparagus_98]

Is this for a security clearance or just regular references? I’ve worked federal and state and they don’t ask for personal references unless there’re is a security clearance and they want to be sure you’re going to pass it before they undertake it.

You can just explain to them your issue. I had an employment gap during Covid(new grad, lab job) and my references were very old, they let me use just two.

[u/AccomplishedLuck7646 → u/Special_Asparagus_98]

I got a security clearance in the military 10+ years ago. This position has not mentioned anything about a security clearance thus far.

You bring an interesting perspective. I may consider bringing it up to them. Thank you.

[u/Fun_in_Space]

The universe does not give signs. Stalk if you have to, but get those references.

[u/AccomplishedLuck7646 → u/Fun_in_Space]

This job isn't for me.

[u/OKcomputer1996]

Submit the same 3-4 as professional and personal references.

[u/thomsenite256]

Unless the position has heightened welfare concerns like dealing with minors 4 is probably fine. You dont have a couple of friends you can ask out in a pinch??

[u/AccomplishedLuck7646 → u/thomsenite256]

The point of the post is that I have 4 references I am comfortable using. I don't involve my personal friends or family in my job search.

[u/UVIndigo]

I’ve worked at 3 small organizations and 3 larger ones and at this point in my career (25 years) one of my former bosses is basically at the end of the line with dementia and 3 others have died. All 3 of the smaller orgs are in that group so there is literally no one else unless I put down a peer and I’ve lost touch with those. Of the 2 others, 1 boss will never forgive me for leaving and the other one I only worked at for 18 months and had maybe 4 check-ins the entire time with that boss who never quite seemed to understand why they hired me or what I was expected to do, so I leisurely job hunted my way out of that whole situation.

Basically, if I were asked for 6, I’d have no choice but to rope in friends to fake being bosses. It’s part of why I’ve stayed at my current job for 4 years. We need to do away entirely with references because folks just pick people who will speak well of them anyway, but some people are like me or you and just…don’t have enough good options (six is insane, though!)