What are some ways I can professionally tell an interviewer not to call my last job

Summer519

I can't use anyone at the job I have now as a reference. To say the least, I have not made any friends. Everyone there was very close already and I was the new girl and got picked on, especially by a very intimidating and rude employee. And I've never been in trouble as much and for the stupidest things as I have here. They've literally kept tabs on things that I do (usually unintentional and I don't notice but instead of letting me know how to fix it they go and gossip to eachother). For example, I "interrupted" a manager to get change (she wasn't talking to anyone and I didn't feel comfortable walking around the store with $180) and then I was "slandering" when I let another younger employee know that if she was uncomfortable or intimidated by the very rude employee to just let a manager know (this one ended up being a huge issue). Things like that where I just don't think I'm doing anything wrong but they've got a list! Needless to say, I don't want anyone calling them for a reference, how do I word that professionally?

Vojera

They usually ask you to supply your references, so just provide two (or whatever number they ask for) other names. If they happen to ask why your most recent employment isn't on the list, perhaps you could give a reason like you felt like you weren't there long enough for them to have seen you fully demonstrate your skills or you didn't think that employment was a relevant as another one.

Mr. Loverman

I know this is a horrible and uncomfortable thing to do, but have you really been honest with yourself and wondered if you are the problem?

Normally when everyone has a problem with someone, it's not everyone who is wrong.

Some self analysis might prevent things like this happening again.

But let's assume this is an exception and you are indeed innocent.

Put referee's available upon request on your CV.
After your interview you tell them I will e-mail you two references later today.
You then e-mail them two previous references.
Also, no company will expect you to use your current employer as a reference.

Honey-ec

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Also, no company will expect you to use your current employer as a reference.

True, but most will expect a reference from them once they're no longer your current employer.

Mr. Loverman

Honey-ec wrote: »

True, but most will expect a reference from them once they're no longer your current employer.

You mean if you leave job X and join job Y, after you have been in job Y for a while they will ring job X looking for a reference?

Or you mean future employers may want a reference from job X?

Summer519

Correct- I do not want the person giving me an interview to contact my current job. Unless of course I am officially offered the new job by the interviewer. But I am afraid that my current employer may have nothing good to say, which will deter the interviewer from wanting to give me the job.

Summer519

I have thought maybe I am the problem but I've had 3 other job where I got along great with everyone and never had an issue brought up against me and I think that the environment I'm currently in is just not a good one. I've looked back on every issue that has been brought up to me but I couldn't fix it at the time because instead of letting me know what I've done wrong, my manager just gossips about it with the other supervisors. That being said, I may not be able to fix what has been happening there, but I know once I get in a new place I am going to try to just start fresh and stay away from anyone who is rude or unpleasant to work with because the rude girl had harassed me quite a bit when I started but like I said, a lot of people there were already close including our manager with her so I didn't feel like I could go anywhere for help. It was really just not conducive to a good working environment and instead of approaching me directly if I did something wrong (it was a new company to me and I was/am still learning), they talked about it with eachother. I heard a lot "through the grapevine" and then there were those random times when my manager would talk to me and tell me all the things I'm doing wrong at once but they're all simple little things that I never really knew I did, like when I "interrupted" someone but they weren't talking to anyone at the time so I didn't even know and instead of telling me to hold on or informing me they were with a customer, they complained to my manager and a couple of coworkers when I didn't know they were helping someone in the first place.

Honey-ec

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

You mean if you leave job X and join job Y, after you have been in job Y for a while they will ring job X looking for a reference?

Or you mean future employers may want a reference from job X?

I mean that usually job Y understands that job X may not be aware that you're looking elsewhere at the interview stage, and won't expect a reference from them at that stage, but would often expect them to be listed as a referee after you've started in job Y.

That has certainly been the case throughout my career, anyway.

OP, you could always try saying that your line manager has since left the company and can no longer give a reference. However, if you refuse to even give a HR contact who can verify that you worked there between x date and y date, then they will most likely get suspicious.