how bad is a bad reference?

brettcta

i worked for a media company last year and due to a number of family problems (i started in feb 2011 when my terminally ill uncle was getting progressively worse. they were aware of this), i didn't pass my probation period due to a couple of lates (only a couple of minutes at a time, mainly because the computer systems took so long to fire up (i'd always BE in work on time, just not ready to take calls) (i had insomnia, meaning i had to sleep in the day. i didn't start work until 5.30pm). he died in may and i was booted in july.

i stupidly put them down for a reference for my new job without thinking. i'm due to start monday, but as part of the pre-employment checks, they get references. i have had a job since and a job before that who have both provided positive, glowing references, but i'm worried that if/when i get a bad one from this particular employer, that they're going to pull my job offer.

i know i probably shouldn't have put them on my list of references, but i stupidly did.

how likely is it that they're going to pull my job offer? is it worth trying to explain to them the reasons behind why that happened or is there no point?

thanks

chewynut

You're stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you hadn't put them down for a reference, your new job might want to know why.

Remember references have to be truthful. After they've gone to the trouble of giving you the job offer, I imagine they'll give you a chance to explain why you were late.

InsideInsurance

It is very rare for any company to give a truly bad reference. It opens them up to being sued and other than for personal vendettas there is no benefit to them to warn other employers about you.

If things are bad they will either give an purely factual account and not answer any of the "opinion" type questions (ie would you recommend them?) or alternatively they will simply not give any reference at all.

I have known someone to start a job and then the new employer received two references which were inconsistent with what the chap had on his CV/ said during interview and one of them said he had been sacked for gross misconduct. Certainly in this case HR took him out of the training room had a discussion with him and it was agreed that he should leave.

If your reference does come back bad I suspect they would speak to you first to get your side of the story and hopefully if you did well enough in the interview, the other references were fine and you answered everything truthfully then things will be ok

macalacka

Most companies will just state start and end dates and final job title upon leaving. They may say you failed your probabtionary however you have very valid reasons for this due to a bereavement so whatever happens be truthful IF you get a less than complimentary reference. good luck!

Uncertain

macalacka wrote: »

Most companies will just state start and end dates and final job title upon leaving.

Whilst I agree this is becoming more common in some fields it is certainly not universal. There are plenty of occupations where full and detailed references are still the norm.

It is usually possible to get hold of copy of a copy of a reference from the potential new employer although this can be difficult in some circumstances. What is far harder to prove is what may have been said in an "off the record" phone call or informal meeting and this can still be relevant even where firms only officially provide dates and job title.

If you are in any doubt at all about what may be said then you either need to try and avoid that referee or test it out perhaps by getting a friend who runs a business to seek a reference as if you were going to work for them.

scooby088

I once went for an interview with a company and the manager who interviewed me said that the HR department never check up references as they felt previous employers were biased and the company preferred to see the person given a job a probationary period to really assess them.

Errata

You're going to have a lot of explaining to do when you're asked why you didn't give your most recent employer as a reference. Saying you 'were stupid' or 'made a mistake' isn't going to make you shine and frankly demonstrates incompetence.

dandelionclock30

No it doesnt- he was late a couple of times and didnt pass his probation, this desnt mean to say he is incompetant!. People can have serious problems going on which make them mess up.They can sort the issue and move on.
I think the OP needs to find out what they will say in a reference first and then plan from there. if its just a standard reference then he will not have to worry.

colino

Frankly written references are just an administrative tick box. Managers and their HR departments can't be bothered doing proper ones and often the suspiciously good ones are generated to make sure they offload a dozy member of staff on to someone elses payroll.
If a reference is important, a line manager or Director will take the trouble of picking up the phone and getting an off the record picture.

dearlouise

You can't give a bad reference. They can decline, that says it all frankly. However if asked why you left, they can say facts but not opinion.

Dunroamin

dearlouise wrote: »

You can't give a bad reference.

Oh yes they can - that's an urban myth.