What would you do? Reference

yahoo09

Hello,

So i've been offered a job and the only outstanding part is my reference.

It was requested by new employer on 24 July and 10th August... i have personally chased this up and the person said that they've not had a request for reference. I have been forwarded original email and I was copied into the latest one on 13 August. Then, I contacted my referee who said again no reference has been received (email addresses are correct) and she said if she got the reference today she will do it today. I have now been told she is on a/l until next week.

I have waited since July 24 and this has been 4 email, 3 telephone calls and still not sorted... I an really frustrated, I am in a regulated profession and I only worked for her for two months!

I have asked my new job to consider previous referee (3 years employed) but was told I have to use my most recently employed.


My referee has provided a reference for me since i left a couple of months ago but to a different employer - so i see no reason why she would decline to give me one it is just she is stalling, i have done my upmost and it is sooooo frustrating that week-by-week and now entering one month i am missing out on income.

I have now resorted to asking my new job to call my referee and send whilst on the phone, this is terrible it has come to this, however, the frustration is really evident... it is almost like stalling/delaying for no reason.

Any ideas would be grateful for people who have been in this position

Smellyonion

Most employers will accept simply a statement of employment. I would contact HR from your previous employment and use them for a reference.

Comms69

The short answer is they aren't obliged to provide a reference so any advice would be along the lines of; ask nicely and hope it's ok.

Undervalued

Comms69 wrote: »

The short answer is they aren't obliged to provide a reference so any advice would be along the lines of; ask nicely and hope it's ok.

In most cases yes but the OP also said

I am in a regulated profession

Which may mean there is a legal obligation to provide one.

Unless that is the case then, as you say, "ask nicely" is the only option. Pushing too hard may be counter productive as a refusal to supply a reference is generally interpreted as having nothing good to say!

Marcon

yahoo09 wrote: »

HI have waited since July 24 and this has been 4 email, 3 telephone calls and still not sorted... I an really frustrated, I am in a regulated profession and I only worked for her for two months!

OP - you say you work in a regulated profession. Were you an authorised employee carrying out a controlled function?

Comms69

It's the same poster as the recruitment process, so I assume it's healthcare related.

steampowered

Very often employers are just trying to verify job titles / dates of employment, rather than get a detailed run down from your last manager.

I would just contact whoever is responsible for HR at your old employer.

Even if you don't know anyone in HR they should be able to help give a basic reference very quickly.

System

I get asked to be referee all the time. I think it's an honour. My colleagues on the other hand thinks it's a pain in the bum and hates doing it, if they do it at all. I've had someone begging one of my colleagues to do them a reference, and just because they can't be bothered, they haven't done it. The person actually came in personally to beg him to do it, still could not be bothered, too much hassle.

To answer your question...sometimes the email just doesn't come through. Sometimes, they just can't be bothered. Sometimes they just don't like you (but won't tell it to your face) and are using it as punishment.

On the flipside, I've had to some very pushy people demanding references. People I barely know but need a reference from me, because there others will tell the inconvenient truth about their recent employment. I've had people ask for a reference and the very next day call and complain I haven't done it yet.

Try to get your employer to ring them but ask yourself, do you really want a reference from this person now?

TBagpuss

Is it possible that the e-mails have been going to spam for some reason? If there was an attachment such as a form to complete and return, this could have triggered spam filters, and might explain why your former employer isn't getting the request.
Are you able to print off the copy you received and deliver to the person who needs to do the reference for you?

Kayalana99

Can they send it in writing perhaps?

[Deleted User]

yahoo09 wrote: »

I am in a regulated profession and I only worked for her for two months!

Perhaps you haven't worked there long enough for a reference. Eg would you have 'passed company probation'. Whilst I thought regulated meant always guaranteed a reference perhaps it doesn't if a certain amount of time isn't served.

Perhaps another office has to write a reference - it happens - I heartily believed and had this vision that the HR advisor who was in the same building would be writing my reference - but no their policy dictates it goes to another office altogether and the 'local office' just has the job of forwarding any requests on. In the 6 months I sat somewhere at no point did they correct me on this, it's only being lucky enough to see the letter to know the London office address and undersigned unknown to me as most definitely wasn't where I was based. For all I know it could well be policy length of service determines whether written by local or outsourced.

Perhaps your new company are the one's really stalling here as well.