Reply to: Reference Issue

[thelurker]

So they wouldn't confirm skills that they didn't see you use, and you think this is unacceptable?!

Thought there was a difference between saying you never seen such skills, (which maybe true as never needed to show them) to I don't think this person has such skills and is unsuited to this role?

Again without seeing full detail of reference I cannot say what was actually written, so will report back when I have more info.

Thanks

[northernladuk]

What a sorry read this thread has become.....

[SimonMac]

I spoken with the manager who wrote the reference, who was vague on what they wrote but did say they didn't see some of the skills the new job asked for whilst I was there, which would make sense as it a slightly different role.

I have mad SAR to the "new employer" for reference provided.

As mentioned earlier, main concern is around other jobs i go for in future, I will no doubt get a similar reference, so is there legal recourse i can make to old employers to make them think twice?

Cheers

So they wouldn't confirm skills that they didn't see you use, and you think this is unacceptable?!

[thelurker]

If you were there for over a year, then what happened that they gave you a bad reference? Surely time in contract is a good indicator that they were happy with you and your work.

Are you sure that the reference was bad, or is it just that the new client was expecting more from the reference? If you are looking for a step up, then the new client may be looking for more in the reference than a standard "he was OK" line which is fairly neutral.

It could also be that the new client has found someone else and they just want to let you down by having you annoyed with someone else than with them.

Of course, in the future, you could always try the "it's against their company policy to give out references - I've tried in the past and their HR department just won't budge. Plus, I'm tied by an NDA so I can't reveal their name, but I can discuss in non-specific terms what I did for them. When would you like me to start?" line

And you have absolutely no idea what it could be? None at all?

I spoken with the manager who wrote the reference, who was vague on what they wrote but did say they didn't see some of the skills the new job asked for whilst I was there, which would make sense as it a slightly different role.

I have mad SAR to the "new employer" for reference provided.

As mentioned earlier, main concern is around other jobs i go for in future, I will no doubt get a similar reference, so is there legal recourse i can make to old employers to make them think twice?

Cheers

[northernladuk]

That role was a permy role (joined the dark side!) which I was made redundant for due to financial reasons.

I checked with new organisation and they said the reference given by the employer wasn't satisfactory.

**Update** New organisation have withdrawn the offer based on this reference!

And you have absolutely no idea what it could be? None at all?

[thelurker]

That role was a permy role (joined the dark side!) which I was made redundant for due to financial reasons.

I checked with new organisation and they said the reference given by the employer wasn't satisfactory.

**Update** New organisation have withdrawn the offer based on this reference!

If you were there for over a year, then what happened that they gave you a bad reference? Surely time in contract is a good indicator that they were happy with you and your work.

Are you sure that the reference was bad, or is it just that the new client was expecting more from the reference? If you are looking for a step up, then the new client may be looking for more in the reference than a standard "he was OK" line which is fairly neutral.

It could also be that the new client has found someone else and they just want to let you down by having you annoyed with someone else than with them.

Of course, in the future, you could always try the "it's against their company policy to give out references - I've tried in the past and their HR department just won't budge. Plus, I'm tied by an NDA so I can't reveal their name, but I can discuss in non-specific terms what I did for them. When would you like me to start?" line

[fraymond]

I just received a full response in the post from a screening agency I wrote to requesting access to my reference checks under DPA Subject Access Request for a position I worked last year. Their response included all references they collected in the course of providing background checks.

[TheFaQQer]

Was there over a year so how can avoid not providing the information.

It is common requirement for public sector jobs that last 3 years info is required.

Really need to get into the IB world

If you were there for over a year, then what happened that they gave you a bad reference? Surely time in contract is a good indicator that they were happy with you and your work.

Are you sure that the reference was bad, or is it just that the new client was expecting more from the reference? If you are looking for a step up, then the new client may be looking for more in the reference than a standard "he was OK" line which is fairly neutral.

It could also be that the new client has found someone else and they just want to let you down by having you annoyed with someone else than with them.

Of course, in the future, you could always try the "it's against their company policy to give out references - I've tried in the past and their HR department just won't budge. Plus, I'm tied by an NDA so I can't reveal their name, but I can discuss in non-specific terms what I did for them. When would you like me to start?" line

[thelurker]

Don't ask them for a reference again.

Was there over a year so how can avoid not providing the information.

It is common requirement for public sector jobs that last 3 years info is required.

Really need to get into the IB world

[TheFaQQer]

Thus a bigger concern for me, is if I go for other roles and I get similar reference again it will cause problems......?

Don't ask them for a reference again.

[thelurker]

It is hindering a new role and was told from the other company where reference came from..

This new role has more responsibility, so I sort of "step up" from my previous.

Thus a bigger concern for me, is if I go for other roles and I get similar reference again it will cause problems......?

Thanks

[TheFaQQer]

I might also add that few companies have a proper data controller who actually knows the rules, so you might also find that the request just gets answered by some HR numpty.

If the reference says something like "Confidential and Personal" on it, then they are more likely to read the rules and realise that they don't need to disclose it.

I'd question how the OP knows which reference it was that was "bad" - it may well be that just because it wasn't a glowing report, the new client isn't interested. I'd chalk it up to experience, move on, and not get a reference from there in the future!

[Andy Hallett]

Reference Issue

Got a new role but one employer has given me a **negative** reference from new employer.

Are you able to (legally) request to see reference provided?

Any ways round this in future for other roles? Organisation was quite small so difficult to get a reference from someone else, as I was under the impression (wrongly?) that an employer couldn't give negative references?

Thanks

Has it hindered your new role? If not then why sweat it?

[northernladuk]

If I was the OP I would just make some polite enquiries first. If he knows the person or someone connected they may be honest enough to tell him what the problem is. I would like to think if anyone was to give me negative feedback they wouldn't have a problem telling me to my face.

[Moscow Mule]

I might also add that few companies have a proper data controller who actually knows the rules, so you might also find that the request just gets answered by some HR numpty.