Clearly, any prospective employer receiving such feedback on a job seeker is highly unlikely to hire them. What, then, should be your course of action if you are concerned about potential commentary from your former employer? The first step is to confirm if you do indeed have a problem with at least one of your references . Do an honest self- assessment of your references that are most likely to be called by prospective employers. Very possibly you already have a good idea of who may be making your employment search a challenging one. And while you might be able to keep some former associates off of a prospective employer’s radar, it is unlikely that a former supervisor or HR department will be overlooked. The HR department is a traditional venue for reference checks , and HR reps of your most recent employers are almost certain to get a call from potential employers. Your former supervisors will be high on an employer’s list as well, as they know you better than HR and may also be willing to offer a more revealing profile about you. Then, consider having a reference check(s) conducted on those business associates from your past who might be problematic. Avoid the temptation to have a friend or associate call and pose as a prospective employer – this could backfire on you, also any unfavorable input obtained in this manner would be inadmissible for legal purposes. Instead, have a reputable third party (e.g. Allison & Taylor Reference Checking ) conduct these reference interviews on your behalf to best ensure that any negative input obtained can be legally addressed and neutralized. If negative input from a reference is uncovered, what steps can you take? Your options will depend on the nature of the negative input. Where your reference’s communication was inaccurate, malicious, or wrongful you may have the ability - through an attorney - to pursue legal recourse. When a reference’s negative input is not unlawful but is nonetheless restricting your ability to secure future employment, it can sometimes be addressed through a Cease-&-Desist letter which is typically issued by your attorney to the senior management of the company where the negative reference originated, alerting the management of the negative reference’s identity and actions. Typically the very act of offering a negative reference is against corporate guidelines, which normally state that only a former employee’s title/dates of employment can be confirmed. The negative reference is cautioned by management not to offer additional comments and - out of self- interest - will usually not offer negative commentary again. Whether through a Cease-&-Desist letter or stronger legal measures, the prospects for neutralizing further negative input from a reference are excellent. Also, the “peace of mind” a reference verification brings to an employment candidate unsure of what their references are really saying, cannot be underestimated. If concern about your references is causing you some sleepless nights, it’s never too soon to document - and address - what they are really saying about you. The career you save, may be your own. CHAPTER 61 How to Obtain a Reference from a Negative Employer Getting an Employer Reference When You Didn’t Part on Good Terms Perhaps you’ve experienced this scenario: your recent job interviews have been very promising, and your prospective new employer has indicated you either have the job, or will have it pending their reference checks of your former employers. However, you’re concerned that at least one (maybe more) of your former employers will torpedo your prospects by offering negative commentary about you. What can you do? Your best approach, says Allison & Taylor Reference Checking, is to proactively learn (and perhaps orchestrate) your former employer’s input prior to their being contacted by a potential employer. Virtually every company has a formal policy of confirming your employment dates/title (only) when contacted for a reference. Note this is more frequently adhered to by Human Resources, who is normally more aware of what they should/should not be saying, as opposed to former supervisors who are frequently overly talkative when offering a reference.
Resumes Win Interviews References Win Job Offers
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