Hey guys. I need some advice. I can't tell if I'm overthinking this or if it is as excessive as I think it is.
I have been applying to jobs for the last month. I am looking at relocating so I care most about just getting a stable job with livable pay. Nothing crazy. I've applied to so many (over 40) at this point and have maybe gotten 5 responses, which is just another level of frustrating.
Anyway, I applied to a job titled General Office Assistant. Basically exactly what it sounds like, secretary/office admin support stuff and it seems to pay fine enough. The only requirements were a HS Diploma and previous admin support experience.
I have 3 years of experience and a bachelor's, so I filled out the application, submitted my resume & cover letter, and filled in the section for references. Just as I have for every job.
I actually got a response to set up an interview!! I have set up a time to do a video interview, but included in their email was a request to send in “6 supervisory references”. I have never heard or seen a job requiring 6 references and that seems really excessive honestly, especially for an entry level office job??
Well I ended up responding with my 3 references that I submitted with my application and basically said, I've never heard of a job asking for this many. These are the 3 I can provide. I could give you 3 more names but they wouldn't be “supervisory references”.
I worked at the same job for the last 3 years and had the same 3 supervisors over that course of time. I would have to just give names of coworkers if I needed 3 more, which would be fine I guess?? The other supervisory references I have had in the past can't really speak to my current work ethic as it was over 3 years ago that I worked with them.
Then they responded with this:
“Your reference could also be someone who can speak to your work ethic like a professor?”
AHHHHH I'm so annoyed. At this point I don't even know what to say or if I should bother getting 3 more or not. It feels excessive and honestly if this is the expectations and responses they have, then I don't even know if I would want to work with them???
Thoughts?
TLDR: applied to an entry level office admin job and was asked to supply 6 supervisory references. Told them I have the standard 3. And they responded like idiots. Does 6 seem excessive? Should I even bother with it further?