[doctortt]

Do HK employers ask you to provide reference letters from the previous oversea companies that you worked for to prove that you did work for them?

[wtbhotia]

really depends on how big the company is, most likely they will ask for it.

[The BeeDees]

Originally Posted by doctortt

Do HK employers ask you to provide reference letters from the previous oversea companies that you worked for to prove that you did work for them?

There are three kind of references generally:

1. Reference checks, usually conducted by a third party. They would go through your credit history, employment records etc and verify that what you provided are true.

2. Reference letters from your previous companies to verify that you had worked for them. These usually come from the HR departments and details would include your employed period, title, salary, bonus etc. Very as a matter of fact kind of verification. Sometimes, these may overlap with the first reference check.

3. Character reference: Some firms may ask for a reference from your previous managers/colleagues to comment on your ability. I was asked this, and got the firm to call up my ex-managers after giving them the head-ups.

Hope this helps.

[doctortt]

Thanks a lot.

"1. Reference checks, usually conducted by a third party. They would go through your credit history, employment records etc and verify that what you provided are true."

For this, how does the third party company in Hong Kong verify the information that I have provided since they previous companies that I worked for are in the U.S.? Unless they request for my social security number. Without the SS #, there is no way anyone can verify the info. Wonder how this works.

[jjaavvaa]

"cert. of service" is a must(well only for my exp.), which shows your employment start & end dates and your title. however, ref. letter from your mgr/director is not a must but prefer.

usually they will fax/email a ref. check doc to your ex- employers(usually only the last one), and your ex-employer has to fill that in.

[KnowItAll]

doctortt - plenty of specialist multinational reference checking companies out there. Anyways, depends on what your job is going to be. Infact one of our members runs a reference checking outfit .. pretty interesting to hear the lengths they will go through to verify your resume / credentials. And rightfully as apparently 50%+ of applicants enhance their resumes ...

(Yes, your employer will ask for your social security number if they employ one of these service providers)

Now, that is on the higher end of the responsibility scale... I'd not be too worried if its the english teacher, sales executive type entry / junior positions....

[jgl]

Originally Posted by doctortt

Thanks a lot.

"1. Reference checks, usually conducted by a third party. They would go through your credit history, employment records etc and verify that what you provided are true."

For this, how does the third party company in Hong Kong verify the information that I have provided since they previous companies that I worked for are in the U.S.? Unless they request for my social security number. Without the SS #, there is no way anyone can verify the info. Wonder how this works.

Easy... you are required to give your SS# and other details to your employer, as well as authorisation for them to run background checks on you. If you're working for a multinational with it's act together, the will call every place of employment you have listed on your CV. I've been checked back to part time positions back in my undergrad days. Basically, do not BS on your job history if you're working for a bank or a consultancy

[doctortt]

How about recommendation letter from former managers? Will that work?

[The BeeDees]

Originally Posted by doctortt

How about recommendation letter from former managers? Will that work?

These would serve as character references. Like reference letters for school applications, employers usually would demand some form of independence. So your referees are expected to mail in the recommendation letters directly or these can be done over the phone.