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It came out of the blue. You submitted references after what felt like a strong interview and were waiting to hear the good news. But then you find out one of your former bosses gave you a bad reference. Is it over? Have you lost the job?
Although I wish I could give you a simple “yes” or “no” answer, the truth is it all depends on a few things. And I’ll get to that soon. But more important is what you need to do the next time (if this job doesn’t work out) to avoid this situation.
In order to do their job, reference checkers ask questions of the people whose names you provide them on a reference sheet. They may also find other sources on their own if needed, but in most cases the names you give them are enough.
So create your reference list with care — and make sure all of you references are available and willing. You don’t want this seemingly simple post-interview part of the decision process to be what costs you the job. (More on that later on.)
Having been asked to check a potential hire’s references many times, I know the kinds of questions I asked. [Read more…]
Do job references really matter? Sometimes more than you know. And sometimes less. If that sounds confusing, it kind of is confusing since you can’t be sure of your potential employer’s policies. Or lack of policies.
Over the years, I’ve seen a large variation in how seriously references are treated. But if you want to err on the side of caution, by all means pay attention to how you treat your reference list and the people on it. (More on that below.)
Despite all the advice for hiring they can find online, there are employers who don’t even ask for references. Or ask for them but don’t bother calling. Or try, but if they don’t get an answer or can’t get much information out of the reference they just hire anyway based on their gut.
Don’t count on this, but it does happen. Mostly in [Read more…]
If possible, you should call your references before your job interview. You want to make sure that they are available and willing. And that you have their correct contact info.
Also, you might get a feel for how positive they’ll be — and if needed decide to maybe leave that one out.
Now I know not everyone is easily reached by phone. Or you may not feel comfortable doing that. But then they may not be easy to reach for reference checking either.
Not a great thing to count on someone who can’t be reached. Or seems hesitant in any way. So an extra “ducks in a row” check ahead of time is just a smart thing to do.
Of course. If you feel more comfortable approaching them via email — and really don’t want to call your references — then you should do what feels right for you. Only you know what kind of relationship you have. And email does make it easier for them to respond when it’s more convenient for them.
But easier doesn’t always mean best. So if you can get yourself to make the call, by all means do so. And if they’re busy, they can always call you back — again when more convenient. Just give them the best phone number and times to reach you for sure, so they won’t be burdened with chasing you down.
Quite simply put, every time you connect with someone it’s an opportunity to reaffirm and hopefully strengthen your relationship. And a strong relationship can also be a strong link in your network.
As opposed to email, where inboxes may overflow and feel like a burden, the one-to-one connection of a call also lets you catch up on them if they have time. Of course, you want to respect their time if they seem busy. But even a few minutes can warm up a connection.
Another big plus of speaking with them is that you can fill them in on the job and remind them (not too obviously) of why you and this job are such a good match. That may help them help you when they actually give the reference.
When you call your references before an interview, you not only make sure they aren’t caught off guard, you are giving them time to prepare. Getting a surprise reference check call from a potential employer can throw a person off guard. And that can affect the quality of the reference they provide.
Again, networking relationships are a two-way street. And shouldn’t be just about when you need them. So if this can be the beginning of more regular contacts that can be a good thing for you both. I found quite a few jobs from out-of-the-blue calls from former bosses and coworkers who needed help. Ones I stayed in touch with over the years!
How to provide easy to read, well-written job references that help employers by giving details they need for a reference check.
From the very first glimpse of your resume and beyond, impressions happen at every stage of the interview process. And that includes the reference list you give / send to the employer. So here’s an example I created of a sample reference page you can use as a template for your own references sheet.
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Solutions for handling tricky job references when being considered for a job.
Hi Ronnie Ann! I have a question about supervisor references. Finally the company I’ve been interviewing with called to request references. While the position is at a lower level than my former position, it is for a company I’m eager to work with, in an area that really interests me.
They have requested references from two supervisors plus one other source. I have no problem getting three or four great references from the people I’ve worked with. But getting multiple supervisor references might be tricky.
I was with my past company for almost a decade. For half of that time, I was in a high-level managerial position, reporting directly to the President, the owner of the company. This person, despite being very intelligent, was often unstable and manipulative. And at times bordering on abusive.
While HR was aware of these issues, there was nothing that could be done about it. Finally, I couldn’t take it any more. The stressful effect of my boss’ wild mood swings and screaming sessions was the key reason I chose to leave an otherwise great company. Although I have been careful not to mention this in any hiring situations.
As such, I don’t really want to use her as a reference if I can avoid it.
I have included on my list one person who was my manager during my early years with the company, who is still there in a different capacity and would have no problem discussing my growth and contributions to the company.
Would it be feasible to also include someone who was in charge of a cross-departmental team that I was on more recently, even though technically I was at a higher job level than she was? She did manage and coordinate a number of efforts that I contributed to.
My only other option for actual supervisor references would be to call the person who managed me 10 years ago. I still keep in contact with him occasionally. But he doesn’t really have a sense of what I’m capable of now, so not sure that works.
What are your thoughts?
N.W.
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Hi N.W.!
First, congratulations on being it this enviable position. Clearly you impressed the new company enough to be asked for supervisor references. I love it when people who write me have already figured out the answer. As in your case.
The good news is that most places (except totally inflexible ones you probably wouldn’t want to work for anyway) do understand. They realize you can’t always find the exact supervisor references, especially in a case where you are taking a lower level position for the growth potential. And they also know that not every boss is an angel.
The former manager is a solid reference. Especially since he’s still there and can offer relevant references. And definitely include the person who managed the cross-departmental team, since even if you were technically higher up, technically she managed you. She’s a fine reference and can give recent feedback and legitimately comment on your ability to work with others, take direction, and also act autonomously within the team effort.
I think these are both good references. They asked for people who know you in a supervisory capacity and these both qualify. You might want to add notes on your reference list, describing the relationship under each name you provide. I always appreciate getting something like that when I do reference checks.
Assuming the reason that some supervisor references aren’t available is clear enough, you should be fine. I only push further if I get suspicious and need to dig deeper. And for the cross-departmental person, just explain that she managed you. No need to explain exact titles and hierarchy. The reference checker can ask her that later if they want.
Hopefully these supervisory references plus your other reference(s) will be enough. Most times that would satisfy any reference checker. No need to add a potential landmine if you don’t need to.
Of course, if they insist on talking to your former boss (and I kind of doubt they will), you let the new company know they weren’t thrilled you left, but will gladly provide the reference. And then you call your former boss and have the most pleasant chat you can manage, letting them know that you provided his/her name for a new job.
Odds are this won’t happen. But if it does and they provides less than favorable feedback, it still might not be a deal breaker. Most reference checkers look at the whole package, including the other references and how well they seem to know you and your work. I always did.
Still, the references you suggested should do the trick. Definitely go that route and see what happens.
Good luck getting though this part of the process. And good luck in the new job!
~ Ronnie Ann
Ronnie Ann is a certified career coach, organizational consultant, and the founder of Work To The Wise. Since 2006, she has provided deeply personal, “hand-holding” support to help job seekers overcome anxiety, rebuild their confidence, and navigate complex career transitions.
Expertise & Credentials:
NYU Certificate: Career Planning & Development
Advanced Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Real-World Experience: Decades of corporate hiring, interviewing, and serial job-seeking adventures.
Learn more about her personal approach on her About page or connect directly via LinkedIn.
If an employer is checking your references, does it mean you got the job? Not necessarily.
Does it mean you are the only one they are considering? No. Although you might be.
Does it mean they are close to making an offer? Maybe.
Basically, all you can know for sure is that it means the company is interested in you. And they want to know more about how others see you — especially former employers / bosses / supervisors.
Usually, when a company starts checking your references, if the references are good you will get an offer. But there are times when they have more than one candidate that they are strongly considering.
So they are using the references to help them decide. And you might not be their final choice. But you could be.
Well, they may not like what they hear from the references. Or they may not get enough information to resolve any doubts they have. And so they could offer it to someone else. Or decide to continue advertising and / or interviewing without turning you down yet.
Then again, they may get glowing reviews and still wind up going with someone else for any number of reasons. These are things you cannot control. Things that go on behind the scenes.
And they don’t reflect on your value to another employer. Or even your potential value to that company, as awful as it feels to be rejected. (One reason to write a polite thank you note. And stay in touch just in case.)
Usually, if a company has reached the point of checking your references and your references are good, it probably means that you will be getting an offer soon. Most employers lean toward not wanting to hurt your chances. And even helping if they can.
Exceptions to that could be that the situation ended on a really sour note. Or you did something truly illegal. But even then, employers watch carefully what they say during reference checks so as not to be sued.
Still, odds are that having your references checked will soon bring some happy news. I hope that’s the case for you.
Good luck!
About the author…
Ronnie Ann, founder of Work To the Wise and Work Coach Cafe, bases her real-world advice on her many years as an organizational consultant where she helped interview and hire people, added to a certificate from NYU in Career Planning & Development, as well as her many adventures as a serial job seeker.
Former bosses not at company.Hi Ronnie Ann. I am a Preschool teacher wanting to return to work. Unfortunately, the places I have been employed have a huge employee turnover rate. So my former bosses don’t work there anymore. In fact, NONE of my previous directors or co-workers are currently employed at those places.
How do I handle this lack of good references on job applications? I don’t have a problem with prospective employers contacting previous employment places. But there is no one currently employed who knows me. And definitely no previous boss.
It looks pretty bad on applications if I mark “No. May not contact.” Even part-time for summer jobs I had, either the former supervisor is no longer around, the company changed names, or the company is no longer in existence.
Please, I need your expert help. I don’t want to lose any possible job opportunities due to this. And I have an excellent work history. In all cases, I left positions for good reasons, including an unforeseen medical issue, pregnancy, moved or needed full-time hours.
Thanks for your time and advice.
~ TB
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Hi TB!
First … don’t worry. There’s usually a way around a situation like this. [Read more…]