THE QUESTION

I am an intermediate-level communications professional with a solid track record who is considering a move to a new organization. However, I absolutely hate asking people to provide references. It is intrusive to the person being asked for a referral and makes the person doing the asking feel like a beggar.

Why are references even required in this day and age when information about a candidate’s job history and accomplishments can be found online, interviewers conduct multiple interviews, and new hires are almost always on probation for a few months, anyway? Isn’t it time for companies to base their selection on a person’s CV and in-person interviews rather than on third-party opinions – let’s face it, regardless of the theoretical value, references are subjective and based on liking a person rather than objective assessment.

Is there any way I can get around providing references without appearing evasive so I don’t have to bother friends and former employers?

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