What is keeping you from getting the job you want? Do you leave your interviews feeling great, only for the job to go to someone else? You may want to consider what your past employers are saying about you. Despite the fact that many companies prohibit managers from providing references, many supervisors don’t follow company policy. And this can really hurt your job search.
Don’t assume that it was illegal for former employers to offer negative input. While legal and/or corporate guidelines may indeed state that only your employment dates/titles can be confirmed, it is not necessarily illegal per se for a reference to give negative commentary about a former employee. References can – and very frequently do – offer considerably more commentary to your prospective employer than simply verifying your employment dates/title. As a result, many job-seeking candidates like Jennifer who expected a favorable (or at least neutral) assessment from their references unknowingly lose out on employment opportunities that are “torpedoed” as a result of a negative reference(s).
Unfortunately, it’s not just an overtly negative reference that can be problematic. A simple “not eligible for rehire” from Human Resources can also doom an applicant’s prospects for future employment.
And a potential employer will almost never share with a candidate the fact that a negative reference was received. How, then, will you know that one of your references is offering negative, perhaps unlawful input to a prospective employer? Even if she had known, how could she have addressed it?
If you’re unsure as to whether a negative reference is impacting your job seeking efforts, whom can you contact? One option is Allison & Taylor, Inc. (www.allisontaylor.com), a reference checking service in business since 1984. This company will interview your reference(s) and document their input word-for-word. Approximately 50% of all reference checks they conduct uncover negative input from the reference.
Note that a negative reference is likely to continue offering the same input to every prospective employer that calls unless you detect it and take steps to stop it. Job seekers can lose many opportunities before they realize what is happening. It’s never too early to identify – and neutralize – a negative job reference in your life.
Consider what one Allison and Talyor, Inc. client had to say after using their professional reference checking service:
“I will use your service again. You provided me exactly what I needed.”
For further details on services and procedures please visit http://www.allisontaylor.com/.