Job Discussion Forums

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

When it comes to verifying experience for job applications in KSA, is it sufficient to just list the names of referees on your CV? Or do you have to provide letters of reference with actual dates?

Is the verification of experience a work visa requirement or is it all totally down to employers' different policies?

johnslat · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:07 pm Post subject:

Dear bulgogiboy,

In my experience, verification (or not) is up to the employer. Since part of one's salary is usually based on years of experience, I'd assume that your employer would check (but nothing's certain, especially in the Kingdom.)
Listing the referees on your CV should be sufficient (and you could add, "Letters of reference supplied upon request".) But again, whether letters would be needed or even wanted would be up to your employer.

Regards,
John

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Cheers, John!

PastorYoon · Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 19

Good luck!

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

I don't think listing your references on your CV's is sufficient proof of experience. That's been my experience with 5 or 6 employers in 15 years Gulf experience (Emirates and KSA). You need at least a reference letter from each previous job. It helps to have additional documentation such as (in the case of Americans) yearly income tax returns showing the employers.

mariowski · Joined: 23 Jun 2010 Posts: 18

When I went to get my visa from the embassy in Ankara, I had all the official papers I had collected from the previous schools I worked, but nobody asked for them in the embassy. I will take the same papers to Saudi just in case the school asks for even though I had e-mailed them some time ago.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

It's not about the embassy. It's about the employer and its pay scale. You (a) get the job and (b) get your pay according to how many years of relevant experience you can PROVE you have.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

johnslat · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject:

Letters of reference may be asked for, but to think that the employer will accept just those as proof is, I'd say, a little naive. Since one's salary is usually linked to some degree to one's experience, it would be an odd employer that didn't actually check with previous employers to verify. Given today's technology, manufacturing fake "letters of reference" would be quite simple.

Like VS, I've never had to provide yearly tax returns.

Regards,
John

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Spoken like an accountant, VS, and you are partially right, but...it's very simple, people. Not only have my employers asked for proof of experience, many have also asked for salary history. The first page of 1040 provides both in one throw, and I didn't mind. The first page provides nothing but a US address, an employer name and address, and earned income. That's what they require--earned income and employer name/location. An income tax return is credible evidence even though it could be faked.

Reference letters are signed documents from supervisors and colleagues attesting to experience. If they're so useless, why on earth would employers ask for them? They DO in fact fill the gaps, along with whatever else you can provide,when other docs such as pay slips and contracts are missing. I've been doing this for 24 years with more employers than I care to admit and nothing bad has happened to me. The good thing that's happened to me are the salary scales I deserve.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject:

Dear Sheik,

Why would they ask for them? Beats me - because if they're going to contact your references listed on your CV/resume anyway, why would they need the letters?
And it they're not going to contact those references, they're idiots.

Maybe they're just a throwback to an earlier, less technologically advanced time (kind of like, say, me.)

Regards,
John

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

You are apparently unaware that most employers over here do NOT check references. As for experience history, they don't ASK for references, they ask for evidence salary and experience history. Lacking payslips and contracts, a ref. letter was, yes, my last choice, but it sufficed. You have spoken like a man with a single employer in your Gulf years. OK, here's how it works: They want references FOR THE FILES. They want salary and employment history FOR THE FILES, something easy to read in sequential order. Then--you get job, get check. With my history of moving around and less than stellar clerical habits, sometimes a ref letter and tax form was all I had, and it was enough.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:12 pm Post subject:

Dear Sheik,

Guess I was fortunate in not having to put up with all that crap. Staying with one employer has its perks (if the employer's a good one, that is.)

Regards,
John

P.S. My references were contacted and checked, by the way.

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Even though I can list the referees and their contact details, I have no reference letters in hand, and certainly have no salary slips or contracts(didnt think to keep them). Am I up the creek?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject:

Dear bulgogiboy,

Whether you're up the creek or down the river will depend on what your employer demands. Guess you need to find that out, if possible.

Regards,
John