Reading [this question](https://workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/133495/lied-on-resume-at-previous-job), I came across the staement:

> 
> I know they are going to confirm degree with previous employer
> 
> 
> 

In my experience, in the UK, most previous employers will only confirm that the person worked for them between the dates specified, they don't supply character references or anything that couldn't be seen as objectively true in court

Have I lead an unusually sheltered professional life? Does this vary from country to country?

I'm not asking about CRB/DBS-type background checks carried out by third parties.