Job has turned out differnt than it was described

**DiscoStu** · 15 January 2008, 16:31

I've not been asked for references yet. And if it's only 10 months just leave it off your CV. You spent the time renovating your house / playing jazz saxophone on a cruise ship / staying with friends while working in a bar in in <insert name of foreign you know fairly well here> just because you fancied a break.

Saying all that, don't know what sector you're in but the market for testers is somewhat tulip at the moment, now may not be the best time to start contracting...

**Joe1978** · 15 January 2008, 16:44

Cheers for the advice re the references i have heard different things about references as a contractor so i wasnt too sure.
i have a whopping 3 month notice period anyways so it will be a while before i start looking.

**NotAllThere** · 15 January 2008, 17:32

Search this forum re: notice terms and the enforceability thereof. Especially with regards to whether you actually have to turn up to work during your notice period.

There is a form of unfair dismissal called "constructive dismissal". This is when you are effectively made to resign by the way you are being unfairly treated by your management. Quit, and tell them that you will be suing for constructive dismissal.

While working out your notice period, document any instances of "making your life hell" - if they permit you to work out your notice once you've informed them that you're suing. Deal with them professionally and rationally. They can only make your life hell if you let them. The worst they can do is terminated forthwith, leaving you free to contract, and you can still sue them.

Employment law is on the side of the employee. That's why I never employ anyone.

**Denny** · 15 January 2008, 17:40

Originally posted by Joe1978 View Post

Ok folks here's the story i have 7 years experience in my industry and 6 years in my current sector.
Last year I left a large company after 3 years because i wanted a change and didnt want to become part of the furniture so a year a go i left and got a job working for a very small specialist company.
I had sent them my CV on the off chance and they invited me for an interview.
they saw on my CV i had experience in a field they wanted to go into, how would i like to join them set up there department be a manager and run the show? definitely i thought great opportunity for me, I mentioned I had little experience managing people (supervised a small team of temps but that was it) they said fine i could learn and be trained i asked what technology they had and told them what the industry standard was and what i had experience of using they said they had an old system but where definitely going to update it ......

10 months later the job has turned out totally the opposite to what i was expecting and what i was told -it turned out they already had a department in place and I wasn't going to be setting up anything (well i say department it was 1 person who has been there 10 years over worked and stressed out but unwilling to change) i only got a job description a month ago! no new technology (access and excel still being used for EVERYTHING- they use paper and biros and tippex FFS), i have had no management training and very little other training and have had huge ammounts of work and therefore stress piled on me and to top it all of they tell me i am not living up to there expectations and that i needed to be re-trained and have some responsibilty taken away from me and would i mind signing an agreement to this effect....(they told me this AFTER i completed a huge project for them on a ridiculous timeline to keep their fave client sweet)!

I have told them they are way behind the times and my experience at the other companies i have worked at (in the same industry|) has been very different and that i made it clear to them at the start what my experince and background was.

basically i have wasted a year of my - although i have got some experience as a manager i feel if i stay i will go mad so enough is enough
i am now going to quit and having taken advice about my skills and experience and what is available i am taking the plunge into contracting

however i have a few concerns about what will happen when i hand my notice in
1) they will make my notice period hell
2) they will try and "sack" me so it looks like i was dismissed
3) My reference will be tulip as i "did not live up to their expectations"

as i am going in to the contract world should i really be bothered about these things or just think f**k em and wait, do my time til my notice is up

This should be posted on www.i-resign not here, but now that you have posted here.....

You have legitimate reasons for leaving because you were missold the position, so a year on your CV is not that bad as a CV filler and won't make you look unreliable or unprofessional.

A company cannot by law give you poor references that are misleading and untrue. It is illegal to do this.

When you ask for references ask for it in writing not just verbally and take it with you when you go, in case one needs to be taken up. Then you'll know what they are likely to say about you if verbal take up is ever needed.

If it seems to risky to get a potential client or EB to ask for a reference, say you started a business enterprise or developed a website or something that took you x amount of months and then travelled and now you want to go into contracting. Get a plausible friend to provide the reference, if need be. This will disguise a pretty disasterous year on your CV and won't hinder your chances of making it as a contractor provided your skills are up to date. In any event, references are rarely taken up in IT, from what I read on here, so you may be worrying about nothing. But best be prepared.

Good luck.

**Ardesco** · 15 January 2008, 17:45

If it helps I have never had to provide a reference for a gig I have got. When I was wet behind the ears I provided them to every tom dick and Harry, but within a fortnight I had learnt all about agents looking for leads

**Joe1978** · 15 January 2008, 17:58

Thanks for the advice lots of sound advice and food for thought - i think i will just have to see how it goes and hopefully they will behave in a professional manner (that's certainly how i intend to) and we can discuss the terms of my notice, references etc, etc.

Apologies if this was the wrong place or topic to post feel free to delete Mods

**Wilmslow** · 15 January 2008, 21:03

Really sorry to hear about your bad experiences - sounds very familiar to me as well.

If market was bouyant I would say to just resign and move on.

However, the market, from my perspective is really rocky at present. I am not getting the calls or emails I used to despite registering on the usual websites.

Three month notice? Market may get better, or worse during that time.

If really dire, just resign and accept your first contract anywhere you can get it. I am assuming you are flexible on location??

Agents do not seem to want references - I have not come across one, even seasoned long term ones in banks don't seem to get referenced either! Don't let reference be the decider. However, if there are any colleagues you know and trust, often a call to another colleague is reference enough

**Ardesco** · 16 January 2008, 08:51

BTW take notice Wilmslow, this could be you in 10 months time....

I would suggest getting everything you can written into your new shiny permie contract, training, holidays, etc, etc.

**Archangel** · 16 January 2008, 09:19

Originally posted by Ardesco View Post

If it helps I have never had to provide a reference for a gig I have got. When I was wet behind the ears I provided them to every tom dick and Harry, but within a fortnight I had learnt all about agents looking for leads

Ditto. I've been contracting since 1988 and have never had to provide a reference (and ignore requests to do so)

Job has turned out differnt than it was described