References

ultimatedingbat

Hi,
Can you request to see copies of your references? How can you do this? Should you go through the person who gave you the reference or the job your applying/applied to?

MissSarah1972

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

Hi,
Can you request to see copies of your references? How can you do this? Should you go through the person who gave you the reference or the job your applying/applied to?

You mean your old or current employer have suplied a reference to a potential employer?

If that is the case you apply to the potential employer. They can show you if they want to.

ultimatedingbat

Background: I applied for a teaching job and didn't get it on the basis of weak references. Now I am concnered what they have put as I had issues on my last job which I thought were sorted.

MissSarah1972

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

Background: I applied for a teaching job and didn't get it on the basis of weak references. Now I am concnered what they have put as I had issues on my last job which I thought were sorted.

Were you expecting a weak reference?

Sorted? As in?

You can ask to see them and they have to be factual. If they have made up soemthing that has stopped you getting a job I am not sure (someone else will tell you) if you can take it further but I know you can request to see it.

ultimatedingbat

No I definatly was not expecting a weak reference.

Is there anything official I have to send or could I just email and ask to see it?

MissSarah1972

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

No I definatly was not expecting a weak reference.

Is there anything official I have to send or could I just email and ask to see it?

But you said issues you thought were sorted? Like what? Did you have an agreement with the old company?

marybelle01

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

Background: I applied for a teaching job and didn't get it on the basis of weak references. Now I am concnered what they have put as I had issues on my last job which I thought were sorted.

You can apply to your old employer using a Subject Access Request and stating you want a copy of the reference. Which may cost you £10. The recipient of the reference can show it you if they wish - but many won't. A reference only has to be truthful though, not good.

ultimatedingbat

The reference is from my placement school whereby I trained. Initially there were some issues with settling in and getting used to 'their' way but I thought it was sorted and my final report is excellent. They reccomended me to pass the course!

MissSarah1972

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

The reference is from my placement school whereby I trained. Initially there were some issues with settling in and getting used to 'their' way but I thought it was sorted and my final report is excellent. They reccomended me to pass the course!

That all depends on what format the reference was. If they were asked direct questions they have to answer them and it would look bad if they left one out because 'it was sorted'.

marybelle01

Yes, but it is still easy to get a weak reference. Weak is as much in the eye of the beholder as in the pen of the writer. If they haven't explained what they mean by that, it's pretty hard to say - it could just as easily mean "we rebalanced the books and realised we can't afford another teacher and this is the easiest way out of the hole we dug".

ultimatedingbat

So am I bette going to the school or to the recipient? Is tehre a formal letter I can send? This has clearly got me really worried