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Left job under awkward circumstances - can I ask for a reference?

  • 08-07-2009 8:17am
    #1
    Monkey61
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭


    In 2008 I spent a year working for a well known high street retail chain. Over the course of this year my depression flared up pretty badly and I ended up being signed off sick for a week after having a major panic attack in work - (basically ran to the manager's office in floods of tears and they immediately sent me home).

    I was due to leave the job anyway 2 weeks later, but forced myself back to work as I really needed the money for the last week and wouldn't have gotten my sick pay if I had never returned. It was a disastrous idea as I was in no state to be working. I lasted 2 days and then had to be signed off sick again.

    I am about to start job hunting again and would really like to work for the comapany again, but don't know if firstly - I have disgraced myself by my departure and cannot ask for a reference from the particular store manager, or whether I could get a job in the same store again.

    I always got on very well with the branch manager, was trusted and given lots of extra responsibility, asked to be a representative for our shop in area conferences and stuff - but I am not sure if that has been negated by my embarrassing exit. For the record, my mental health is absolutely top notch at the moment but I could understand if they didn't trust me again.

    Would it be a good idea to ring up the shop to speak to the manager, tell her that I was looking for work again and ask her if it was okay to put her down as a reference and then ask if she was likely to be hiring any staff soon? I fear it would look a bit weird on my CV if I didn't have her down as a reference, particularly if I was applying for jobs within the same company.

    Any advice appreciated!


Comments

  • #2
    maxwell smart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,940 ✭✭✭maxwell smart


    If you think you know how the manager will deal with your request and any enquiries about you, then of course go for it, plenty of good workers get sick. Depression is taken in totally the wrong context by a large amount of people in Ireland. It happens, BUT, I would not tell your new employer you suffered from it if possible!


  • #3
    kittenkiller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭kittenkiller


    Hi,

    Ask your old branch mananager what they think you should do, as you obviously have/had a good working relationship with them.
    They might offer to be your reference off the bat, which would be great.
    Otherwise they might be able to reassure you that the company does not look upon your departure with resentment at all. It's been over 6 months now, they've probably forgotten about it entirely at this point.

    If necessary, mention that you're much better now and thank them for their understanding while you were ill.

    Best of luck.


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