Will your references sabotage your job hunt?

Candi, this is indeed a tricky one, but here’s what I’d do: List your coworkers, or at least one coworker, plus a previous boss or two whom you can count on to be more enthusiastic. (You have them, right? Don’t forget, clients/customers with whom you worked regularly can be great references too.) If you are asked why you haven’t given your last boss as a reference — and you may not be asked — then explain that you and this person were “just not on the same wavelength” or “didn’t see eye to eye” or… as they say in Hollywood, had “creative differences”. If you say this in a mild, uncritical way (NEVER trash a former boss, of course!), no one will be surprised. The person interviewing you has no doubt had a boss or two (or six) like that, too….

How do you deal with a so-so reference from your previous supervisor? I left my previous job on good terms but feel that my previous boss didn’t like me much or my work. However, I have several co-workers who thought my work was good. I’d think not listing your last boss would be a red flag to a prospective employer. Any advice for handling that situation?

John, have you had a bad experience (or more than one, maybe) with references, or with acting as a reference for someone else? It’s certainly true that getting “too many” job offers — a nice problem to have! — can burden people who are asked repeatedly to speak for a candidate. Anyone who’s interviewing at a lot of companies at once would probably be wise to try to give a slightly different set of references, if not to each company, then at least to some — to avoid burning those people out!

Current reference practices should be outlawed. The employers should only be allowed to contact the HR departments. Not burning bridges? How many people are out there that are too eager to stab you in the back if they can’t be caught while smiling to you and asking about your plans for weekend? Racist people? Sexist people who would love to damage the career of a successful person just because she is a woman? Stupid people? Tired people making a reckless remark that can kill your prospect offer without you even knowing it? Wnat do you think about people having to answer endless reference calls which sometimes last 40 minutes? Being a strong candidate can lead to burn bridges if you get ‘too many’ offers. Especially with the latest trend to ask for references even before the first interview. Should we be held hostages for all of this? References should be held accountable for what they are saying – up to the court of law. Reference checks should follow strict procedures. People should be able to get transcripts of what their references say about them. Etc., etc.

Here are 2 interesting twists for references:
1. References who create flaws
2. References who supply references

#1 – Sometimes a reference feels that they have to invent a fault that doesn’t exist. The mentality is that NO candidate could ever be so good, that each of us has our strengths and defects. Unfortunately such goodwill can cost an opporunity.

#2 – Some employers believe that the references one provides will only speak good. So they then ask these references for other references. They believe the unnamed references will give an even more truthful picture.

Candidates are getting wise to this. How? Candidates now coach their references on what names to give if asked.

PW From personal experience, your references from 10 years ago will at most get a brief call, or a form letter asking about potentially criminal or unethical acts. The only weight put on such long ago acts are if the position requires a security background check.

Are “likes to go barefoot” and “always wears flip-flops” really deal-killers at your company? Huh. My company hires people based on their ability to contribute to our business goals.

I usually provide letters of reference as well – that way if something changed in my previous managers opinion of me I still have the glowing letter they wrote months before. I also believe in empowering others so if someone has provided service above and beyond consistently I offer my name as a reference because I know how important references are in helping someone in their career or job search. Unlike GS of Worchester I know I’m semi-disposable and believe in helping those deserving, not because I have a good title but because I know I could be in their shoes one day.

I’ve got a good title and find a lot of people who I barely know ask me for a reference because of it. I am happy to confirm that I worked with them, but am honest up front and tell them I don’t know them or their work well enough to provide a strong reference that would land them job.

For people I know well and have provided references for, the worst thing they can do is not notify me in advance that a recruiter will be calling from XYZ company. In fact, I never hear that I’m expected to provide a reference, much less a thank you. Over time, these references have in fact become weaker as a result. If you want a good reference ask for permission every time and thank the person who gave it, even if you don’t land the job!

Most companies in my field (biotech/pharm) are so litigation-paranoid that they require any call for a reference to be sent directly to HR, which confirms 1) you were an employee, 2) you are no longer an employee or you still are, and 3) whether you are eligible for re-hire. They will not even say your salary range, your reason(s) for separation, or why you are or are not eligible for re-hire.

And yet, when hiring, the very same HR department goes all over the place looking for references and recommendations for potential candidates.

Oh, the hypocrisy. So how am I supposed to get a reference from my current employer that will NOT hurt me? We lie and do it “off the record.” Welcome to reality folks.

Hmm, SToronto, that is a tough one! I don’t know what kind of business it is, but are there clients/customers who could act as references? Another thought: If possible, you could try to get active in a professional/trade/industry association. By “active”, I mean take on some kind of leadership role — head up a committee, chair a fundraising drive, or whatever. This way, there would be a whole different group of people who have worked with you to achieve a particular goal and could talk about your skills, etc., but who are not related to you!

Here’s a hard one…..I work for my Dad. I am thinking of leaving to work elsewhere, he’s not thrilled at all with that. Also, a couple years back I had to give an employer reference for a volunteer position. They wanted to hear from somebody other than my Dad since he is obviously family, put me in a tuff spot because there are no other employees I could use as references and all my past managers from past jobs have moved on.

Wow, Steve, you caught a break there! Not too many recruiters will take the time to do that. But, as Jenny noted below, sometimes you can get a friend to do it!

you’re so right, Annie, two good colleagues i always thought i could use as references, but one said no and the other said i should act less like a jerk so you should check them out. I find if there are one or two people who you know have said nice things about you to others, then use them.

I checked references and employment for the HR dept in a hospital. I often found that applicants would use their best friends home numbers for references. It doesn’t take a genius to know if the person answers the phone with “Hello” and there is a tv and screaming kids in the background that this is not a business. This type of dishonesty goes right into file 13. If you do not have any professional refernces it is best to do without.

You can find out what your references have to say about you! My headhunter called all my references to see for herself what they would say. She advised me to drop a reference who had all good things to say but wasn’t enthusiastic enough.

I have found that using your last manager/Supervisor as a reference can sometime be a negative, even if you were on great terms with that manager. In a recent case, I have an ex employee that used me as a reference. However, our HR discourages us for providing references for former employees. They instruct us to refer any calls for references to HR, or only verify that employee did work in the position that they claim. this sometimes can give the impression that the former manager has nothing good to say about the former employee. So watch who you select as references. You may not get what you expect…

I once heard my boss provide a reference for another co-worker who had been laid off. My boss, while not ever being openly critical or saying anything negative managed to communicate a very negative impression. I learned never, ever to ask her to be a reference.

A contractor that I had removed from a project I managed for failing to meet deadlines listed me as a reference. I can’t image what he was thinking.

Since 1991,I have worked in 10 countries. I have been part of a division sale, a bankrupt, another sale, a local hire job with the UN, another local hire with WFP, two countries where the firm grew from 6 people to current 1000, one 2 year consultancy with a mulitple country joint venture and now in self employment, References ha you have to be kidding as most of them have resumes like mine. Fortunately, my field is international construction, where my resume is not unusual.

PW, I wonder how much weight a reference checker would give “one bad apple” who worked with you so long ago. But if you are really concerned about it, here’s a suggestion (one given to me by a career coach years ago, when I was trying to get a solution to this very same problem for another reader!): Consider calling the person who worries you and laying your cards on the table. Say something like, “This is a little awkward, since we haven’t talked in years, but I’m applying for a job where I am obliged to list everyone I ever worked for, so you may be called as a reference. I know we had our differences when we worked together, but I hope you can let bygones be bygones and try to remember the positive aspects of my work. I’d really appreciate your help.” This way, it won’t be a surprise when the reference checker calls (people who are caught off-guard may not always say what you hope they’d say!), and it gives your old boss a chance to take the high road — which I really believe any but the MOST hardhearted will do, given the opportunity! Who knows, that person may have changed since you worked together, or may at least sympathize with anyone looking for a job in this horrid economy! If you can summon up the nerve to do it, it would be worth a try!

In many companies, references can only be given by HR not by the actual past supervisor. That means that they will say you worked there, whether you would be rehired at the company, and a few other things. Make sure the contact information is directly to the references.
I have seen younger colleagues burning bridges when they leave jobs these days. It may feel good to tell the boss to shove it in the short term, but it can come back to haunt you in future years. This is a bad idea and only hurts you.

Jane, obviously this is a frustrating situation (for both you and the person recommending you), so… be EXTRA NICE to him or her. Send flowers, pick up the tab for lunch at a nice (but affordable) restaurant, or do some other kind of favor you know they would appreciate — in short, express even more gratitude for that person’s support than you normally would. Of course, it’s not your fault that you don’t get the job(s), and they know that — but you do want to keep them in your corner!

I’ve had some funny comments in references but no bad comments so far.

I am concerned now because I’ve applied for a government position that I’m told involves an extensive background check. The application process specified that you had to include contact information for every supervisor on every job on your resume.

I’m worried because there is someone who might be a poison pill about 10 years back. I would never use her as a reference in the private sector.

For some jobs before that, companies I worked for have been sold, some two or three times since I worked there. A couple have gone out of business. One former supervisor died in 2005.

I feel like the last 10 years are very solid references, but I’m worried that one bad apple — who I had to list to be eligible for the new job — will spoil it for me.

If your not sure what your references are saying about you, have a friend call and ask them the typical questions and see what their response is.

Then you’ll know whether to keep them as a refernce or try someone else.
Jen

I’ve been in the situation where I’ve had to ask people to write letters of recommendation or other acts that is more than being on a list to receive a call. Then after my reference goes to all this effort, I don’t get the job. How do I handle my referee in this situation? In someways, when I don’t get the job it’s a rejection of them as well. And then I feel even more burdened when the next situation comes around, and I have to approach them again.