What exactly is a 'REFERENCE' ?

Reference is not a back-door process. Referral is basically existing employees 'referring' their existing contacts to the job positions available with the company they are working for. Reference does not act as a guarantee given by the employee. It's just a reference that makes it easier for the HR candidates to find short-cut in the recruitment process.

Unless the person referring you is well known or fairly senior in the company, the references do not influence the interviews. In most of the cases, it's just a way to know potential candidates.

Not sure which certificate you're talking about. But references are totally optional.

Some companies use references to track the employees past records. I have some friends in IT companies who told me that before assigning them to the projects, calls were dialed to the names mentioned in there reference list to check about the employee's academic performance and other background.
I think the use of 'reference' may differ from company to company.

One interviewer told me to show a character certificate if I have a reference signed by the employee. Do references work in cross companies too? For example, can a person working in ABC company refer a candidate for a position in XYZ company?

Nick_SharmaOne interviewer told me to show a character certificate if I have a reference signed by the employee. Do references work in cross companies too? For example, can a person working in ABC company refer a candidate for a position in XYZ company?

I don't think cross referrals would work. But if you are working in ABC company and are looking for a job in XYZ company (job-hopping), a current employee of the XYZ company can refer you to the HR department. In this case, if the person from ABC company gets selected in XYZ, the employee who referred him/her gets a referral bonus. 👍

What is your take in a condition when a fresher is referred in a company by his brother sister or any relative. Does that give him/her an edge over others? Won't they see whether he fits in the eligibility criteria or not?

Nick_SharmaWhat is your take in a condition when a fresher is referred in a company by his brother sister or any relative. Does that give him/her an edge over others? Won't they see whether he fits in the eligibility criteria or not?

In some companies, yes. They do give preference to freshers who have referrals from the company's existing employees. (not in campus placements though.)

They will usually just put his/her resume on top of other candidates, but ultimately it is your knowledge and prowess that will fetch you a job.

Ahh thanks 😀 That's why I love CE

Nick_SharmaOne interviewer told me to show a character certificate if I have a reference signed by the employee. Do references work in cross companies too? For example, can a person working in ABC company refer a candidate for a position in XYZ company?

Using this way your next employer can know what your current/past employer have a view on you.
In present senario, companies like to hire a candidate with a clean background (in career/education/personal) which may not be judged in 3-4 hours of interview. So companies prefer a reference from thier own employeed because if a employee is refering someone then surely, the candidate have a good background and if there is some fault will found, it will reflect to that employee too.
So in general a employee give the reference of candidate who has better backgound and good change of getting selected.On which they will get reference bonus.😀

But is it necessary to have a certificate like that or its just that the interviewer was testing on my patience? Because that really was a stress interview of around 60 minutes

I don't think it is neccessary...May he is testing that you can get some good reviews from your past employer