References

[ajackson]

Ever get the feeling the world is conspiring against you?

I'm trying to move from being a permie to a contractor so I thought I'd chase up some of my old employers to see if they would be prepared to write a reference for me. 1 has gone bust. 1 has been taken over/merged twice and at the other one the manager I worked for has left and I've been told that HR could only confirm the dates I worked at the company (don't you love HR departments). I can hardly approach my current employer and ask for a reference, my previous manager retired and my current one doesn't like me (I have a mind of my own and he doesn't seem to like that). Which leaves me with a reference letter from the Institute of Analyst Programmers.

Am I basically shafted when it comes to getting my first contract due to a lack of references?

[thunderlizard]

I wouldn't let it worry you too much. Even though your cited reference (the one where HR acknowledge you) is sketchy, at least it checks out.
But...

my current one doesn't like me (I have a mind of my own and he doesn't seem to like that)

Your potential customers will like it even less. You really need to sort this out if you fancy contracting - it just doesn't do to go around hacking people off even if you don't think it's your fault. Still, it's worth asking him, to make absolutely sure he'd give you a less than complimentary reference. Most of the time people still give good references even though they didn't get on with the person concerned. In fact I've often seen it happen that the worse people are, the better references they get because the manager will do anything to speed them on their way elsewhere.

[zeitghost]

Gosh, only two gone bust.

You are a lucky man.

Lets see now...

1 still there but the bit where I worked for 4 years is just empty.

1 where I worked for 10 years went bust in 1992 and the site is now a housing estate.

Next one where I worked for 2.5 years went bust in 1993.

Next was a pit from the outer circles of hell & I only lasted 3 months before walking. Don't think I'd get a reference there somehow. First time I ever saw a death watch beetle. (The design department was located in the attic of a 17th century farm house).

Next is still there, hanging on in, worked there for 2.5 years & then made redundant. Good while it lasted. Use him for references.

Next is a contract (2 months), which went bust in 1999.

Next is a contract (1 year), which also closed in 1999.

Next is a contract (1year), which went bust in 2000.

Next is a contract (5 months), who are still there, might use for reference.

Next is a contract (3 months), still there. Couldn't understand why I was there, political reasons I suspect. Achieved very little. Now understand why PCI boards are so much more expensive than ISA ones used to be. (It's the cost of the interface chip to the bus).

Next is a contract (7 months), still there.

Next is a contract (4 months), still there.

Next is a permie job fixing fruit machine logic boards... still there for the moment, but the cash flow is looking a bit dicey at the mo...

And that was it.

And you think you've got problems....

At this rate, I'll have single handedly closed down most of the British manufacturing industry.

[ajackson]

The only real reason why my current boss doesn't like me is that I occupy a position that he was trying to get one of his "yes-men" into. Sure we don't go socialising or even partake in discussions but the general working relationship is OK (though he loves to point out the, very few, mistakes I make). I have no doubt that once I leave the company I will get a good reference (if my appraisals are anything to go by) but I can hardly ask for a written reference while I'm still working there.

Personally I do my best not to get up peoples noses, all my previous managers have had nothing but good words for me, I just came across the current one who doesn't like me for his own reasons.

[tim123]

aj,

I think you are worring too much, only once in 20 years of contracting has a client asked for a reference, the rest of the time it's just agents scamming for leads and you tell them that you will provide references to the client when they are ready to consider an offer. You won't need them

tim

[BillyBobHathaway]

3 things:

1)I agree with Tim.

2)Additionally, who says a reference has to be from your boss? Find a project manager that you get along well with or even a colleague willing to put in a good word.

3) Written refs? Just give em the phone number and make sure your ref is expecting a call.

-BB

[zeitghost]

Just had a phone call from H*xley.

All very interesting, but they need two references for their files....

Dream on as they say.

[malvolio]

It can get sillier...

Current agency is pressing for references for the last two years. Since they were either HMG departments, who don't give them, or disbanded project teams, there's not a lot of hope.

But - I've been with the end client for two weeks and they seem to accept I am who I say I am, but do you think I can persuade the agent of that? This could run and run...

[xoggoth]

I thought it was me who closed down the British manufacturing industry by deciding to become an engineer.

On references they usually seem to be requested but not taken up half the time, except for defence stuff. In the past I've phoned up people to thank them for supplying a reference and generally found that nobody had ever contacted them.

PS Malvolio do you ever wear yellow tights with red cross laces? Just thought I'd ask.

[malvolio]

Re: yellow tights with red cross laces

Doesn't everyone??