Resume Question

[Jedi Master]

Ok, I know some people here have been on the hiring side, and ALL of us have been on the hire-e side, so I've got a question about resumes/applications.

Specifically, references. How important are they? How often are they actually checked?
I'm going to be submitting an application for a new job this week, and I need 3 references. My old job I left almost 5 years ago and I've no clue if the company even exists anymore or if the phone number still works.
So, I figure I need to put people I've been working with lately, except I don't want to put my current managers since I'd rather them not know I was looking. ;) Since I work on the PCs for people all over the base, I figured on putting down some of their names.
Should I put down, I don't know, the wing commander's name?
"Brig Gen (sel) ...." I know they'll never get a hold of him, but if they did he DOES know me on sight, although not necessarily by last name.

Perhaps the highest ranking people here that know me well, like the lead guy of one of the other contractors? Should I put any uniformed people here at all, or just stick to civilian/contractors?

Every time I have to do one of these, this part always trips me up, and this time I feel even more at a loss of who to put down than ever before!

[Softball]

In my experience, references are people you know on a personal basis, not necessarily work related. You could put down someone you work with that has no bearing on your job position. I usually put down names of close friends. Most employers want to know what kind of person you are, do you have a good personality, how do they know you, how long have they known you, etc...

If they want to know your experience, they can read that in your resume. You don't need someone to verify it for you, unless the prospective employer doesn't believe you for some reason. When I have interviewed people in the past for a job position, I would ask them questions about their listed job experience. If they are telling the truth, they are more than happy to tell you all about it. If they are not, then they will try to dodge the question or don't know what to say.

As far as previous employers not being around anymore, that doesn't matter. They just want to see what you have done in the past, and see what you have in your job history. I'm sure there is a way to track what jobs you have had through the SSA(Social Security Administration), but I'm pretty sure if that is confidential information. Maybe a BG check would reveal that info?

[Jedi Master]

ARGH! This part just sucks.

I've got one definite name, because not only does he know how I work he's spent enough time around me while I worked on his PCs and those of his employees to know me on a more personal level. Actually, there are 2 guys like that, one a contractor director and the other the civilian head of the comm squadron (works hand-in-hand with the LTC). The old LTC knew me very well, too, but he left a few months back and I've had only limited contact with the new one since he's had fewer problems.
I figure I should put down the name of the guy who already works at this new place that called me and told me about it? He told me that a recommendation from a current employee does carry a lot of weight, so I guess putting him down is automatic.

If so, I guess I have my 3 names right there...

[Hammer]

references are always checked in my experience. it may not be a great check depending upon the person doing the checking. when i hire, i usually check them myself because the of incompetents that abound...

you should have both professional and personal references. some folks with which you worked in your environment and are familiar with your work ethics, and more personal references as you have mentioned above. you MUST have valid contact information, or you are better not putting anything. you also need to clear it with your references first...methood of contact, etc.

references are almost as important as your actual experience, because they validate it...

[Jedi Master]

Personal references??? Hmmm. All I can think of is Panzer!
He's really the only person not related to me who's known me for a long time, continuously anyway.

So I guess have a few possible names at this point. One contractor director, one civilian higher-up, the guy who is responsible for me even knowing about this job, the CMSgt who's the head enlisted guy on the base (he does know me personally, and far better than the General), and Panzer!
Now, who do I subject to this torture??

[Softball]

Make sure you write "Panzer Meyer" for his name on your resume.

[PanzerMeyer]

Make sure you write "Panzer Meyer" for his name on your resume.

LOL!! Yeah right. Last thing I need is for them to ask why I called myself PanzerMeyer. You should see peoples faces when they ask me for my email address and I spell it out for them. They always make this puzzled look and say "what's that?"