Omitting potential unfair bad reference from CV

megany1

After a 6 month employment which had mostly gone well my boss and I fell out and I left the company. He had raised a disciplinary regarding a poor presentation I allegedly did (I honestly believe it was not particularly poor and did not warrant action) and retrospectively I think by defending myself and commenting on the company and his flaws as contributing factors he has taken a grudge. At the time he said he would provide a good reference so long as I said nothing negative about him or the company - which I didn't. After a years self employment I decided to return to employed work in the same industry and was horrified to find that he slated me far beyond anything that I feel was ever reasonable and raised issues that had never even been discussed with me while I worked there. Luckily my new employer took his information with a pinch of salt as the guy who gave the reference used to work for him and he wasn't convinced. I previously had over 10 years service at my previous employer who has, and is still happy to give me a glowing reference, as I'm sure would my current employer whom I have been with for 18 months.

Is it reasonable to omit this dreadful period on my CV completely given I do not trust him not to slate me again and it was only a six month period which was subsequently followed by my self employment? I work in an industry in which reputation is everything and have found the experience deeply damaging and traumatic.

cr1mson

Is it common practice for all previous employers to be contacted in your field or do you specify references?

If it is the latter wouldn't omit but use your current employer and the employer you had 10 years service with as your references.

C

megany1

I don't think its any different any other industry - Facilities Management - Sales. The company in question would be my penultimate employer (not including myself when I was self employed) but they represented only 6 months of my career and otherwise the only blot.

I would think an employer would want to contact my last two employers.

I don't know whether to

a) completely omit them since he's not been true his word

b) State what happened at any interview and say it went south

c) just hope he's decided to start being a reasonable human being and give the good reference he originally promised and hope that any new employer is as forgiving as my current boss.

I was so upset at the time that I threw out the letter ending my employment as wanted to forget the whole experience - so I don't think I can challenge him if he does slander me again.

FatVonD

I'd be tempted to extend your self employment dates by 6 months and if they ever find out you worked there say it was on a freelance contract.