Problem with job reference

LegacyUser

Hello all, I left a job a few years ago due to stress. I ended up getting a solicitor involved and in the end the employer paid out a few grand and gave me a written reference. This just more or less said I turned up for work every day.


Now I am on the job hunt again and I have had about 6 interviews that all went well. One went to reference stage where I gave the above employers name and then it didn't go any further. They said they had some staffing issues and were reshuffling the duties of the new post to people that already worked there.

I have really tried to get a job in my field to the point where I went to entry level earnings well below what I was on before. I have been so upset not to be able to get these jobs as I am 8 years out of my degree.

So my question is which one would you do?

1.Do you think I should try to avoid giving that employer as a reference

2. Should I come clean and explain the stress story

3. just keep trying to get a job and give same employer and hope that they don't phone the previous employer

Thanks for any advice, it would be welcome.

Lux23

I would avoid giving them the reference of that employer, just say their policy is only to give a standard written reference.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply.

Don't you think that will arouse more suspicion and make them phone the employer?

Most application forms have on it "if you aren't giving your last employer as a reference please explain why"

chuckles30

Most companies only give a standard reference now - along the lines of Joe Bloggs was employed by ABC limited in the role of whatever from 01/01/2010-31/12/2010. So just give them the standard written reference that you have.

Is there anybody in your previous job that you worked for that would give you a personal reference - a manager/team leader? I have done this as I worked for a multi-national and got the standard reference above when I was made redundant. However, one of my managers was happy for me to use their name and number for reference purposes. Lots of employers would be familiar with this scenario I believe.

LegacyUser

Thank Chuckles. It was a really small 4 people business and I think that's the reason I got stressed and overworked. They were a close family and displayed anger against me for taking time off due to it. I think if any potential employer rings them they will just say that person left us in a lot of sh1t and went off with "stress"

Catch 22 and im losing out because of it.

Exclamation Marc

Most employers now only give the standard references that chuckles30 mentioned. Too many companies have been called up on opinion references where they noted staff's performance (which is subjective) so nowadays they only provide the factual "s/he worked here from this point to this point in this role".

Given that this previous employer required the involvement of a solicitor and resulted in compensation to you, I would imagine that the employer would be extremely vigilant in ensuring that any reference they give out is a standard reference with no refutable, debatable or damaging claims. Otherwise, they know they would be pulled up on it straight away given their record.

Even by phone call, they would be very idiotic to give any negative reference regarding your situation given that they would have no idea if they were talking to a potential employer or perhaps a plant to see what reference they would give (unlikely yes, but possible).

Put simply, regardless of your former employers feelings towards you, they won't want anything to do you again given the history so they'll keep it short and factual and will say as little as possible

MRTULES

Would it would be worth ringing up as a plant yourself(or a friend) to see what exactly they say? If they are giving a standard reference over the phone, great. If not, then best not to use them.

December2012

Could you do some volunteering for a charity but playing to your skills set? Eg if it's accounting or legal maybe you could do some admin for a charity's office? Then you could use that person as a reference?

meme74

Give them the written reference from the last employer but no contact name or number and tell them, as others have said, that the company only give written references.

I have worked for companies that only gave written references and companies that wouldnt give written references at all, phone only. My employment with one of the companies that didnt give written references didnt end very well (similar enough to your situation but did not escalate to getting solicitors or anything invovled). I decided it was not worth putting them as a reference at all as it all depended on their mood on the day as to what they would say about me to any future potential employer and I wasnt taking that risk. A written reference is often more than enough and I wouldnt worry that you think it might be odd that they cant contact them by phone.

LegacyUser

Thanks for your replies everyone, some great advice. Unfortunately I don't think theres much charity work an engineering degree could do. I might try the plant idea and let u know how I get on!

meme74, did ur potential employer not ask u about the one u weren't adding as a reference?

My ex employer might find it satisfying that I won the battle but in the long run they are going to win the war as my future job prospects rest with them.

2011

nojob4me wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't think theres much charity work an engineering degree could do.

Yes there is.
Contact Engineers Ireland.

meeeeh

How big is the field you are working in? If there is limited amount of companies and they know each other then you are in a bit of a pickle. My gut feeling is that it will be more likely you will get bad reference from a small company, especially if solicitor was involved. They could just mention that to any potential employer and it could scare them away. Do you have any other references?