asking for reference-advice

away

Hi all,
I need your advice on "asking for reference" situation...i worked for a company on a contract /through an agency/and there was an opportunity for permanent placement but they decided to take "more suitable candidate"..i'm moving ahead but when somebody asks me for reference from my last place it gets.....it was too obvious that my direct supervisor didn't like me. her /also my big boss didn't have much direct impression of my professional performance but he sad i got very well with everybody in the company. i don't want to ask for reference from the other departments and the only options in my department are these two people.
Could you advice what kind of reference and how / who to ask? it would be best for me to get written reference but i doubt i would get it. or how to get out of this circle in other way?
thanks.

Nody

Most companies that get a written reference would follow up with a phone call on it to confirm it (easy for anyone to type anything up).

With the two options you have I'd go for the bigger boss, a general "nice guy" ref is probably preferable. Now you're talking about working via an agency, I assume that the above would be the client company, what about someone from the agency instead?

away

thanks for your reply.
this was my first time contract with that agency and by the way they treated me before/during/after contract i can definately say that nobody give a.....for me.

AARRRGH

away wrote: »

Hi all,
I need your advice on "asking for reference" situation...i worked for a company on a contract /through an agency/and there was an opportunity for permanent placement but they decided to take "more suitable candidate"..i'm moving ahead but when somebody asks me for reference from my last place it gets.....it was too obvious that my direct supervisor didn't like me. her /also my big boss didn't have much direct impression of my professional performance but he sad i got very well with everybody in the company. i don't want to ask for reference from the other departments and the only options in my department are these two people.
Could you advice what kind of reference and how / who to ask? it would be best for me to get written reference but i doubt i would get it. or how to get out of this circle in other way?
thanks.

If I'm reading between the lines correctly, are you trying to say you weren't good enough for your previous job and your supervisor is willing to admit to this if asked during a reference check?

If so, I would use HR as the reference. Assuming you don't have any black marks on your record they won't have much to say except you worked there, there weren't any disciplinary problems, etc.

away

i didn't want to get into details about my performance because it's a bit complicated where i can take my part - the question is i want to avoid contacting the supervisor at all as she's going to do her "best" ...the manager is my only option but as he let her opinion to influence him on such important matter /as continuing or not my contract/ without talking to me -what can i expect from him. i can say that there is not something like HR -there is one lady who is oficially HR but she's a friend of the spervisor.

AARRRGH

I really don't think you can use them as a reference so.

Dempo1

Yes agreed, seems to me no reference would be forthcoming, actually, technically you were not an employee of the company but in fact the agency. Employers are not required in law to give written references also. Whats your relationship with the Agency? perhaps they could act as referee's? Its my general impression, companies using temps care less about them (sorry to be blunt) but agency workers are not priority unless you make an excellent impression, leading to a full time offer.

away

i agree - they didn't care or maybe they just didn't know how to work with temp staff...anyway this option is left aside for now.
how would it be accepted if i say i would like to give reference from another employer /not the last one?

Dempo1

As you are temping could you not just state who your temping for currently when applying for new Jobs. It is very rare employers will contact current employers, on your resume just state current position (OK i know you may have finished but not necessarily given the nature of temp/agency work). State your last employer who hopefully you had a better experience. To be honest its my experience that your performance at interviews makes all the difference.