Job references

Hannaho

Hi! I got offered a job for which I needed two referees, which I gave.

They told me they had taken up the two references and they were fine. Then I got sent out a form requesting my bank details, pps number etc.

In the meantime, I had rented a house, got new schools for my kids, found tenants for my own house with a view to starting on 24th May. Then two days ago, I got a request for a third referee where I stated I had worked but hadn't given as a referee. I gave them a fab written reference that I had gotten from this referee in 2010 just 4 months before I left that employment. However, after I left that employment, I supported a client of that service to obtain their rights and to make contact with other services to support them. My ex employer was furious as this client demanded their rights and they knew it was me who gave them the information - I did it because I was in a new position in another organisation where it was my duty to advocate on behalf of our clients. Anyway, it seems that this ex employer is now refusing to answer reference requests, though previously having given me a glowing reference. I am now in danger of losing job becuase of this despite my other two satisfactory refs.

What can I do?

Why would employer ask for a third ref when refs I had were already satisfactory - did someone badmouth me - I know I encountered some unexpected jealousy when I said I had been offered the job.

Any ideas/comments would be very welcome.

christmas2012

If youre stuck for a reference you can always get one off the local priest (if you know him that is)...

ANXIOUS

Haveou tried explaining the situation to them?

Mr. Loverman

christmas2012 wrote: »

If youre stuck for a reference you can always get one off the local priest (if you know him that is)...

If I asked someone for a reference and they gave me one from their priest... eh... eh... wha?

Hannaho

Hi! Christmas2012 - very funny about the priest.... I'm not Catholic ....

Anxious - I haven't explained anything to them. I gave them the written reference I got two years ago which was fab, but they still want their own reference. I'm just really worried - I feel most people in Ireland do not like people who stand up for others or expose what's wrong even if it's something quite small.

ANXIOUS

Without knowing the details I'm sure that if you didn't do anything underhand, the new employer will understand.

Hannaho

Hi! Anxious, I didn't do anything underhand. Basically I gave the info to a patient (when I was no longer a nurse) about her rights which were not being recognised and put her in contact with other outside sources of help which helped her to get her rights recognised, but this didn't go down well, as it was extra work for the organisation and put extra pressure on them. One of the outside soruces of help I put the patient in touch with had close links to the media. However, I received a couple of calls at home late at night warning me to desist in what I was doing, and not to bring any negative attention to the organisation, or I wouldn't get a job in Ireland again. I was really upset for a long-time afterwards, couldn't sleep etc. I told only a few people close to me at the time.

fasttalkerchat

If you have been to university or done any courses recently you could give an academic referee. Failing that... how long ago did you leave school?

Hannaho

Hi! Fstalkerstat, thanks for you reply. I left school years ago. Initially, they requested two referees - one which was accademic and the other from somewhere I am working currently. They sent me their pay roll form etc to fill in. I know the references were excellent as I saw one of them before it went off. I god new schools for my kids etc, rented somewhere else on the baisis that they requested and obtained two references which I know were excellent, and then all of a sudden they have asked for a third reference two week before I am supposed to start the job. My kids are really upset as they thought they were moving and starting school next week.

fasttalkerchat

Maybe use another referee from the same company? I would say that anything you give them will do. I can't see the need for a third reference at all!