Reference etiquette

Lady is a tramp

A former manager of mine has recently moved to a new company. (I am not in communication with him, and only know this from Linked In.)

The policy of our mutual former employer was always to provide only an impersonal work reference stating dates of employment etc. However, I know he provided an unofficial excellent reference over the phone to my most recent employer (this would have been over three years ago.)

I am currently ill, and therefore not working. Due to my illness, I am unsure whether I will be able to get a reference from my most recent employer.

As regards this previous employment, there won't be a problem getting the standard HR impersonal reference. I was considering approaching this manager via Linked In to see if he would again be willing to provide a reference over the phone to any prospective employer, when/if the time comes.

We always got on very well, and he was always very happy with the standard of my work. However we have not been in touch in the past couple of years.

Is it worth contacting him, or would it be completely inappropriate now that he no longer works for that employer?

Thank you.

Mrs OBumble

Yes, totally worth it.