They say that “Inquiring minds want to know”, and no minds are more inquiring than those considering whether or not to hire you. Once you have gained the interview – perhaps with your excellent resume and job credentials – the potentially hard part begins as employers conduct a (frequently rigorous) job reference and background check to ensure that you are their optimal employment candidate. With 30 years of experience, Allison & Taylor reports that many applicants are in for an unpleasant surprise; 50% of their clients receive poor to mediocre employment references.
And rest assured – your background and references will be investigated. There are two venues by which a prospective employer will accomplish this: first, via a background check, and second, by checking your key references at recent (or not-so-recent) places of employment. The background check is conducted through the use of your social security number – it will generate a report to the employer that will indicate if you have any criminal history, bankruptcies, etc. in your background. Reference checks are typically conducted with either your former supervisors, or Human Resources, or both. If any of the feedback from these checks reflects something unfavorable, it is highly unlikely that an employer will tell you that this is why you were not hired. Instead, the more likely scenario is that you will be told that they have made “other arrangements”, or you will simply never hear from then again.
Sadly, this happens far more often than most job seekers would think. It is very possible that the great job you lost out on at the last moment had nothing to do with your lack of skills, being overqualified, or a bad economy, but was instead the result of an unfavorable background check. In fact, about half of all references that are conducted through Allison & Taylor.com (a premier 3rd party reference/background checking organization) can be classified as mediocre to poor. This is indeed frightening when your employment livelihood is at stake.
Even if you don’t anticipate an issue, never assume that your background check – when run by a prospective employer – will be problem-free. Over your adult life, many parties have the ability to provide information that will ultimately appear on your report. If any of that data has been entered in error, (e.g. by a clerical person who has incorrectly entered your social security number, or someone else’s), you might find that there is something far worse on your report than a speeding ticket you got many years ago.
In summary, the old saying “never assume” surely applies to reference and background checks, and the problematic data they might reveal. The good news: organizations like Allison & Taylor.com can conduct a background check or job reference check for you, and offer remedial steps (such as a Cease & Desist letter) in the event either of these come back with negative commentary. It’s never too early to identify what your background report, or your former employers, are saying about you – the livelihood you save may be your own.
References: if you’re looking for a new job or career, they will surely play a role in your hiring process. Since we’ve all heard that former employers are only supposed to confirm your previous employment dates and title, the reference check process shouldn’t be problematic, right?
Well, perhaps – but you better not count on it. The staff at Allison & Taylor Reference Checking speaks to references every day, and report that almost 50% of references offer lukewarm or even downright negative feedback. “Many people are completely blindsided by a bad reference – they never realized there was an issue,” reports Jeff Shane, Vice-President, Allison & Taylor. “Bad references can put a sudden halt to a candidate’s search for that great new job”.
In some instances, the job seeker may even have gotten the negative input directly from their former employer, e.g. “You’ll never work in this industry again!” (To read similar comments documented by Allison & Taylor, click here.)
If you know you have a bad reference, here are some possible options:
1. Eliminate any mention of the reference from your resume or application forms (if possible), instead offering someone more likely to give a positive assessment of your skills and contribution.
2. If you cannot eliminate the reference from employer consideration, address any potential issues when references are requested. “Mr. Jones was my former supervisor, but we didn’t share the same perspective on some key issues. I’d recommend that you also speak with Ms. Smith, to give you a more balanced assessment of my contribution to that company.”
3. If you feel it unavoidable that a prospective employer will contact your negative reference – get proactive! Consider contacting that person directly and asking whether you can work out a mutually agreeable response to reference requests. You may be able to gain their consent to offering a neutral reference – confirming only employment dates and title – and perhaps even a verbalization of what they view as your more positive attributes.
4. If you can’t come to terms on an agreeable response, find out the company’s policy on providing a reference. Is your reference following policy? If not, contact them again and remind them that adherence to corporate policy would be in their own best interest.
5. If policy does not protect you, or if a reference continues to malign you after you’ve taken the previously listed steps, you may wish to consider a Cease & Desist letter. You may also have cause for further legal action and can consult an attorney regarding your legal rights.
6. Take care your employment references, they are a valuable asset. For some ideas that will help keep your references praising your skills click here.
Remember, what you don’t know can hurt you. If you suspect that a reference is communicating career-damaging information to potential employers, contact Allison & Taylor at www.AllisonTaylor.com, or call 800- 890-5645. Don’t assume you know what your references are saying – be sure of it.
For more information about Allison and Taylor, Inc.’s services click here.
Are you protected by your old company’s policy to only confirm the dates and title of employment?
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Your previous employers could be affecting your new job search through their comments to prospective employers. Don’t let them continue to hurt you and your career.
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You’ve put time and effort into your resume, developed your network of possible employers and recruiters, worked on your interview skills – but have done nothing but typed a list of your references. Don’t leave this crucial area to chance. References are the final factor in who gets the job offer. Your past employers – anyone you reported to will be contacted. Do you know what they will say?