how to deal with bad/basic reference

FutureGuy

Hi all,
I'm posting on behalf of a non-boarsie. She has an interview tomorrow morning. However, she didnt leave on the best of terms with her last employer, and that employer is making her life hard regarding the quality of the reference. Even though she did an outstanding job (the store won awards, moral was sky high etc etc), that reference is now unusable. Basically, she asked to air grievances, but was given her notice instead (the boss was a complete and utter bullying b***h). She asked for the written reference, and she received one where, instead of words such as "excellent", "good" and "competent" were used.

In an interview situation tomorrow, how should she deal with the question "why did you leave your last job"? Should she tell the truth about what happened in a factual way or is there another way?

tHE vAGGABOND

"Why did you leave your last job"

Answers:
-End of contract
-End of my specific role
-Just time to move on, fancy a new challenge

etc

Dont Say anything like "my boss hated me, I was totally right and he was totally wrong" - regardless if that is correct or not. There is no better way to not get a job that bitch about one of your past employers.

BTW - Im pretty sure its illegal to give a 'bad' reference. Now I have no idea at what point a reference becomes bad, you could ask her to look into that.

RentDayBlues

You cannot give a "bad" written references though bear in mind that verbal references are another thing - especially if your referee is called on a bad day!

AARRRGH

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Im pretty sure its illegal to give a 'bad' reference.

RentDayBlues wrote: »

You cannot give a "bad" written references though bear in mind that verbal references are another thing - especially if your referee is called on a bad day!

You can give bad written and verbal references. They just have to be true.

OP: Your friend should not tell the whole truth in the interview - it will (rightly or wrongly) make her look bad. She should also, if possible, not use that employer as a reference.

Could she say she is still working there, and finishing up in a few days? This may be enough to stop the new company from contacting them.

Shelflife

Most businesses will call in relation referees in relation to interviews, i would be honest as to why they left , dont get emotive but spell it out as it was.

i employed a girl who was sacked from her previous job because i trusted her side of the storey over her prevoius employer, had she said it was end of contract , or time to move on , she would have been percieved by me as being disinguineous at best.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Never lie about reasons for leaving a previous job if your reference is from that employer, as most companies follow up references with a phonecall. Been there done that. I have had interviewees lie about their length of service, their duties and their reasons for leaving. They have always been found out. If dishonest in small things I have to take them as untrustworthy.

On the Bad Reference issue. It is certainly accepted practice not to give a bad reference but experienced employers can see through a non-committed reference very easily - hence the phonecall follow-up again.