For the most part because of privacy rules and possibility of litigation references for the most part are only obligated to confirm employment, they're not really allowed to say anything negative about a person.
Most companies satisfy themselves with searching for mentions of a candidate online. Thats right, suddenly facebook and myspace and twitter are becoming pretty powerful tools for HR departments.
I don't really trust references, I will ask a candidate if they mind me calling some of the companies on their resume and who they reported to. Most people don't have a problem with it. But if someone gets nervous or declines I have to ask more questions about why.
Let me put it this way.
The last company I was at has no one left that I reported to and massive turnover on the HR side.
The company before that is out of business.
The company before that was about 8 years ago, they're probably going to know very little about me.
So references to the last three are useless besides a possible confirmation of work.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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