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[Closed] previous employer doesn't do references

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WTF? really?? big company and it doesn't complete a reference for new employers.

Coupled with that and the emploer I had before that gave me a crap one that i'm not allowed to see, and by their rationale, they could have happily wrote what they like

GGGGRRRRRR!!!!!


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:36 pm
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We don't either. Corporate policy again. Well, we stick to absolute facts. Eg John smith worked for us from x date to y date in the role of x. Avoids risk of litigation apparently. It's not uncommon though.


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:38 pm
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the emploer I had before that gave me a crap one that i'm not allowed to see

Make a "Subject access request" to said employer and they are duty bound to let you see it.

As to your more recent one, there's no legal obligation to provide a reference, so not much you can do there.


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:38 pm
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It is also illegal to prvide a deliberately bad reference, you can give honest answers to specific questions but cannot supply unsolicited negative information


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:41 pm
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+1 for CFH's reply.


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:44 pm
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Join LinkedIn, make an effort to get many links.
Ask your bezzie contacts to give you some references, job done.

(This will take time & effort, but prob worth it for professional-type people)


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:46 pm
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but cannot supply unsolicited negative information

Unless it's true and you know about it.


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:46 pm
 sas
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Do employers normally follow them up? If most only provide boilerplate references then presumably they're useless to your future employer and they must know it.


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:48 pm
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JulianA - Member
but cannot supply unsolicited negative information
Unless it's true and you know about it

Agreed. Julian, we must stop agreeing like this! 🙂


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:50 pm
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Can you get a personal reference from your previous manager rather than a 'professional' one perhaps?


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:50 pm
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define what you mean as a bad reference as past employers can refuse to give a reference but not allowed to give a bad reference.


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:52 pm
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Judging by your last one might be a blessing in disguise


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:54 pm
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define what you mean as a bad reference as past employers can refuse to give a reference but not allowed to give a bad reference.

A reference can pretty much say what it wants either positive or negative
as long as it's true


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 6:57 pm
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prob worth it for professional-type people

You sure? Pretty pointless for me as medical references are in a prescribed format; I'd imagine it's the same for law & the church...

Andy


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 7:29 pm
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When I had nothing good to say about someone for a reference, I just said that I didn't like providing them but to ask HR for one (or "personnel" as it used to be called...Jeez, yeah, remember when it was called "personnel"? 🙂 )


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 7:33 pm
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Can't you ask your boss to provide a personal one, instead of getting a corporate one?


 
Posted : 11/08/2010 7:47 pm