Resigned pending investigation

joblessanddepressed

I committed gross misconduct at work stupid I know. I resigned before I was sacked. my reference will likely say ' resigned pending investigation/disciplinary hearing'

I have already registered with some agencies and found a way to explain away my bad reference and none of them seemed bothered by it.

What I am really wondering is how hard realistically is it going to be to get another job with a reference like this?

any advice would be gratefully received.

dmg24

Hi jandd,

Welcome to MSE.

Your question really depends on the individual employer. Some will be happy to accept your explanation, some will want further details from the employer and some will not take your application any further.

Do you have anybody else that you could use for a reference, to back up your good character? This will help.

We have all made mistakes at times. Hopefully a prospective employer will understand this and give you another chance x

asea

Have you been truthful with the agencies though as later on they may approach your former employer & if there is a contrast in your version & theres it may cause problems for you later on.

chuckles1066

dmg24 wrote: »

Hi jandd,

Welcome to MSE.

Your question really depends on the individual employer. Some will be happy to accept your explanation, some will want further details from the employer and some will not take your application any further.

Not in this day and age.

Almost all employers won't give a full reference any more (mine won't) for fear of being sued at a later date ("he was a model employee" doesn't look good when "he" turns out to cost his new employers a shedload of money by deleting all the customer database, for example).

Yes, I know it's namby-pamby but that's society today.

My employer now only provides start date, end date and sickness record.

dmg24

You have not clarified what in my post is 'not in this day and age'?!!

dmg24

aknot wrote: »

I thought an employer can only give a factual reference but not a bad one as it could hinder further employment, maybe by getting a bad ref your ex employer maybe in the wrong already.

An employer can give a negative reference, as long as it is factually correct.

wolfehouse

an employer can also, by rights, refuse to give a reference at all.
your next employer may then read into that what he may.

In that case I would try to find someone else who might give some kind of reference for you.

chuckles1066

dmg24 wrote: »

An employer can give a negative reference, as long as it is factually correct.

"he was a surly individual who appeared to have great difficulty interacting with other team members" creates a very negative impression........what might be omitted was the fact that his timekeeping was perfect, his sickness record exemplary and he actually did everything that was required of him in an outstanding, error-free manner.

Depends if you've got on the wrong side of the people charged with writing your reference.........

cazziebo

chuckles1066 wrote: »

"he was a surly individual who appeared to have great difficulty interacting with other team members" creates a very negative impression........what might be omitted was the fact that his timekeeping was perfect, his sickness record exemplary and he actually did everything that was required of him in an outstanding, error-free manner.

Depends if you've got on the wrong side of the people charged with writing your reference.........

I think the writer of the above reference is on dodgy ground "surly individual" subjective value judgement and "appears to have great difficulty" is an impression. - neither of these points are factual. Attendance, timekeeping, appraisal scores, disciplinary record - these are all facts.

To answer the OP's question - it's a game of roulette. Many employers do not request references and if you're offered a job by one of them then you're obviously okay. Many employers do not request references until after someone has started - sometimes a long time afterwards. If you were really unlucky you could be offered, start and then be dismissed. At least if references are requested and received before you start then you are spared that.

I think your best bet would be to take the advice from other posters - find some referees who will give good references to balance the bad one.

dmg24

chuckles1066 wrote: »

"he was a surly individual who appeared to have great difficulty interacting with other team members" creates a very negative impression........what might be omitted was the fact that his timekeeping was perfect, his sickness record exemplary and he actually did everything that was required of him in an outstanding, error-free manner.

Depends if you've got on the wrong side of the people charged with writing your reference.........

As cazziebo states, your wording is not fact it is opinion.

usa1

Your best bet might be to get some regular work with a temping agency and then get a reference from a regular work place via the agency - be reliable, hardworking etc. That might be a away round the reference.