How to Handle a Bad Job Reference

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The simple thing to do is not to use your former boss as a reference. Especially, if you have left the company on bad terms.

JoJo of SC 3:51PM March 28, 2013

I used www.checkyourreference.com prior to my last job search to check several references. It was well worth the money to have written reports of what my references were saying. Excellent reference material. The report also made it a lot easier to answer questions such as: "What would your last supervisor say are your greatest strengths?"

Meredithe of TN 4:44PM March 26, 2013

How are you going to handle this issue on the resume or the interview???

Theo of MD 11:56AM July 12, 2012

References are so important. Job seekers really need to take the initiative to find out what their former employers are saying about them. I have worked in HR and have checked countless references and am surprised by the number of negative comments I hear. Allison & Taylor (www.allisontaylor.com) can find out what your reference are saying, and also has some great info for job seekers about how to select a reference. It is important to keep in mind what a critical part of the hiring process reference checking can be. Stay on top of it

Jenny of TN 10:30AM March 12, 2012

No only give the one manager as a reference and mention the good reviews if you have his number ask him to write you a reference letter. This pre-empts the co. Call and he should include current email/ phone number for conformation.

leila of PA 10:05PM March 11, 2012

Not necessarily be only a "she" that a bad reference comes from.

Melissa of MN 9:43PM March 08, 2012

What do you do when you worked for an extremely small company with no HR department? I was terminated due to a real personality mismatch with the manager of a >10 person co. and I'm terrified of what that person will say if called . . . .

R of CA 7:48PM March 08, 2012

wow! thats great advice! I never even thought of having someone check my references for me! Here's the thing, I'm just finishing up a two year long internship (err 8 month extended part time internship), and I had a manager change about 8 months ago. My old manager loved my work, gave me high marks on my performance reviews, and said I could use him as a reference any time. My new manager had different and unrealistic expectations of a part time worker/student. He gave me mediocre grades. Am I obligated to give both managers as a reference for this job?

Young graduate 12:33PM March 06, 2012

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