Probation termination

Ybe

Savvy_Sue said:

Ybe said:

My boss said he was happy to give me a personal reference but I’m just a bit worried that if anyone asks for an HR reference, it might show that I was sacked or something. 

Reading your later posts, will there be an HR to get a reference from?

I think so yes. The main HR contact is still there. But yes HR lost a lot of staff too. It seems like the decisions are being made by the global HQ which isn’t in the UK. My boss said he tried to keep me for a bit longer but was overruled by the company. He also said he was worried about his own job. 

Ybe

What I’m worried about though is the manager who I reported to day to day (he works for a different employer - the joint venture partner). He was the one who my employer took my work performance feedback from.  And if HR asks him for a reference, he might give a very bad reference.   Or even HR might give me a bad reference based on what was in my letter 

Undervalued

Ybe said:

What I’m worried about though is the manager who I reported to day to day (he works for a different employer - the joint venture partner). He was the one who my employer took my work performance feedback from.  And if HR asks him for a reference, he might give a very bad reference.   Or even HR might give me a bad reference based on what was in my letter 

In giving a reference the company owes an equal duty to both the ex employee and their potential employer to be honest.

Legally a reference must be true and not deliberately misleading (yes, with clever words it is possible give a very misleading picture without straying from the truth)!

Many firms, but not all by any means, limit themselves to giving only minimal "bare bones" type references. If that is your firm's policy then it may help.

Worse would be if they simply refuse to supply a reference or just ignore any request. That gives a terrible impression but is totally non actionable. If you push too hard there is a danger they may do that.

Then of course there is the "informal reference" over the phone or in the pub......

Sarahspangles

Ybe said:

What I’m worried about though is the manager who I reported to day to day (he works for a different employer - the joint venture partner). He was the one who my employer took my work performance feedback from.  And if HR asks him for a reference, he might give a very bad reference.   Or even HR might give me a bad reference based on what was in my letter 

This is a scenario where you could decide ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it’.

For your next job, is it likely to be a CV or application form?  If you need to put referees down on either, then I would go with the manager who’s offered a reference for your current job plus one other.  If they also want an HR reference after interview then there is a possibility that will be unhelpful.  But I think that chance is slimmer than you think, and it’s on your mind because you’re having a really !!!!!! week.

You should never lie on CVs or in interviews but it’s fine to present things in a positive way.  Reason for leaving: ‘Contract ended’.  If probed, any company you interview for will understand that you had a permanent job but your contract was easy to end when the employer needed to reduce headcount significantly, to minimise redundancy payments.

Could you say “Yes I worked at X for Y months and unfortunately they downsized after losing a major client and those of us who had been there for less than two years were released first.  While I was there I gained experience in Z and [positives].  I know I’m a good fit for this role because I especially like Z.

If you actually hate Z then ideally don’t apply for jobs with a lot of that but you can say things like ‘It was interesting to work in a job with a lot of Z, I believe I add most most value supporting the Z team with [favourite bit] where I really shine.’ 

Ybe

Sarahspangles said:

Ybe said:

What I’m worried about though is the manager who I reported to day to day (he works for a different employer - the joint venture partner). He was the one who my employer took my work performance feedback from.  And if HR asks him for a reference, he might give a very bad reference.   Or even HR might give me a bad reference based on what was in my letter 

This is a scenario where you could decide ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it’.

For your next job, is it likely to be a CV or application form?  If you need to put referees down on either, then I would go with the manager who’s offered a reference for your current job plus one other.  If they also want an HR reference after interview then there is a possibility that will be unhelpful.  But I think that chance is slimmer than you think, and it’s on your mind because you’re having a really !!!!!! week.

You should never lie on CVs or in interviews but it’s fine to present things in a positive way.  Reason for leaving: ‘Contract ended’.  If probed, any company you interview for will understand that you had a permanent job but your contract was easy to end when the employer needed to reduce headcount significantly, to minimise redundancy payments.

Could you say “Yes I worked at X for Y months and unfortunately they downsized after losing a major client and those of us who had been there for less than two years were released first.  While I was there I gained experience in Z and [positives].  I know I’m a good fit for this role because I especially like Z.

If you actually hate Z then ideally don’t apply for jobs with a lot of that but you can say things like ‘It was interesting to work in a job with a lot of Z, I believe I add most most value supporting the Z team with [favourite bit] where I really shine.’ 

It’s for an airside pass application (which is required for the new role) if anyone has experience of airside pass vetting.