Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches
by pavel_lishin on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @05:26PM
(#16320522)
If you know that the person asking you to be a reference is a bad engineer, and they're applying for someplace that builds critical systems - medical devices, say, or rockets - maybe you want to warn their potential employer that they're hiring a liability.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches
by hueving on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @08:19PM
(#16321547)
It's pretty presumptuous to make that assertion unless you knew the person for many years in different work environments.
I've seen lots of engineers become 'bad engineers' because of a myriad of environmental issues (bad management, bad peers, bad office, bad engineering decisions foisted upon them).
If you didn't see them perform well, don't provide a reference. If they are that bad, nobody in a reputable position will provide them a reference and the hiring company will see that.
It's not your responsibility to be an arbiter of some ex-coworker's life.
Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches
by praneshp on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @09:38PM
(#16321856)
The only time I was a reference for someone, I was asked questions, and I answered them. I wouldn't know if they were spun positively or negatively. Is that how senior engineers provide reference, or is it more free form?
Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches
by pavel_lishin on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @09:59AM
(#16324780)
If someone calls me up and asks about Coworker X, and I refuse to provide a reference, isn't that likely to be viewed the same as a negative reference?