References

Jobseeker2010

Hi all,

First time post but the site was recommended so hopefully someone on here will have some useful info.

I resigned from my previous job in October '09 and moved away from the area. Luckily I am in a position where I did not have to work straight away and so took on a short course (via self study at home) which I have now finished and have also seen the perfect job advertised, which I now have a 2nd interview coming up for in a couple of weeks.

My problem is that I didn't leave my previous employer on the best of terms, I left just before the busiest time of the year and although they asked me if I could work a longer notice period I stuck to my contractual notice as I just wanted to get out at that point. I know my old manager is the type of person to hold grudges and I know other employees that have left and requested a reference which has not exactly been complimentary.

Has anyone else been in a similar position, or is there any reason I could give not to use them as an reference that an employer would see as a suitable reason? I was thinking of saying as I over 7 months ago I would like to use someone else, however they would be an employer from even longer ago. My only other thought was that as the new job I have applied for is in a totally different industry to the one I left in October '09 I thought about offering my 2 employers previous to them that were in the same industry, thoughts?

Apologies for the long explanation of a quick question but wanted to make sure I got everything in.

Thanks in advance for any help!

SarEl

Who an employer will accept as references is up to them, but few won't want the last employer, especially since this was relatively recent. Look at it another way - from their point of view you "resigned" (inverted commas because prospective employers will be using them!) without a job to go, been unemployed for several months, and a home study course isn't much of a good reason to quit. In their position, what would you think? Sacked, covering up something? So might they.

There is also nothing to stop them contacting a former employer whether or not you put them down as a referee.

I would suggest therefore that a degree of honesty (not too much, employers hate blow by blow accounts of how lousy your last / current employer was - it makes you look like a malcontent) might be best called for.

Jobseeker2010

Thanks for your reply SarEL.

The reason I left was because we moved 200 miles away and being in the lucky position of having a high earning partner I did not have to seek work straight away. In fact the only reason I have applied for this job is because it is too good an opportunity to not at least give it a go.

The only reason I was looking at not using my previous employer was because I know how malicious my old boss can be (I know from friends still working there that he viewed the timing of my leaving and unwillingness to work a longer notice period with great annoyance and I was bad mouthed in the office more than once as a result) and not to cover anything up. Not sure how I could get that across to the potential new employer without sounding like I'm slagging them off.

SarEl

Jobseeker2010 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply SarEL.

The reason I left was because we moved 200 miles away and being in the lucky position of having a high earning partner I did not have to seek work straight away. In fact the only reason I have applied for this job is because it is too good an opportunity to not at least give it a go.

The only reason I was looking at not using my previous employer was because I know how malicious my old boss can be (I know from friends still working there that he viewed the timing of my leaving and unwillingness to work a longer notice period with great annoyance and I was bad mouthed in the office more than once as a result) and not to cover anything up. Not sure how I could get that across to the potential new employer without sounding like I'm slagging them off.

Is it possible to use someone else - say his manager, or someone in HR? Otherwise I think I would have to suggest that you go with explaining that your boss wasn't happy about your leaving when you did but you were moving and had no choice, but that this was the only reason you left The problem is that if you don't put the last employer down, that is almost certainly going to start alarm bells ringing. It would for me. And then you are left explaining why you didn't, and it all gets more trouble than it is worth (to them).

Premier_2

First of all you need to get the permission of the previous employer to provide a reference.

They may or may not agree.

If they agree (and it sounds like they will), and provide you with an uncomplimentary reference, it will probably tell your prospective employer more about the previous employer than it will about you.

There is an unwritten rule about references amongst employers. Either provide one that is not uncomplimentary or don't provide one at all. The reference may be neutral and fact based - just confirming you worked there and the dates etc, but should not be uncomplimentary.

Often some employers will only provide this neutral type of reference, and some employers have a policy of not ever providing references at all (but then they should also have an equal policy of not requesting references)

This is actually all for very good legal reasons too. Anything untrue, whether uncomplimentary or otherwise, can result in the referee being sued, hence the trend to only state the basic and limited facts with no expression of opinion.

Uncertain

Premier wrote: »

First of all you need to get the permission of the previous employer to provide a reference.

They may or may not agree.

If they agree (and it sounds like they will), and provide you with an uncomplimentary reference, it will probably tell your prospective employer more about the previous employer than it will about you.

There is an unwritten rule about references amongst employers. Either provide one that is not uncomplimentary or don't provide one at all. The reference may be neutral and fact based - just confirming you worked there and the dates etc, but should not be uncomplimentary.

Often some employers will only provide this neutral type of reference, and some employers have a policy of not ever providing references at all (but then they should also have an equal policy of not requesting references)

This is actually all for very good legal reasons too. Anything untrue, whether uncomplimentary or otherwise, can result in the referee being sued, hence the trend to only state the basic and limited facts with no expression of opinion.

Whilst there is a trend in this direction it is far stronger in some areas of work than others. This in itself can give a problem if a prospective employer misunderstands the reason for a bland, factual reference. He may be more used to seeing glowing accounts.

To the OP

If time permits why not get a friend (preferably one who runs a business) to request a reference from your old boss. If it is a bad as you fear then this opens up two possibilities. In an extreme case you could get a solicitor to write to them threatening dire consequences or you may decide that your best option is to somehow avoid giving them as a reference again.

More likely however it will be bland or OK. In which case you can have more confidence with any job applications.