If you’re like most job seekers, your understanding is that your former employers are only allowed to confirm your previous employment dates and title. Certainly they cannot, and will not, offer negative commentary about you as it would be a violation of corporate policy and (perhaps) be illegal as well.
If this were your assumption, you would do well to think again.
While it’s true that many companies do have reference policies in place that prohibit them from giving out anything but limited, prescribed information, many do not, says Allison & Taylor Reference Checking. Additionally, even companies with reference policies in place cannot ensure that their employees will necessarily abide by such rules. As a consequence, while countless job hunters feel secure in the idea that a former employer will only provide their position title and dates of employment, there’s a very good chance that former employers may offer considerably more than this – including unfavorable commentary that may ensure you’re not hired again anytime soon.
It is not uncommon to contact a reference and find them hesitant, evasive or annoyed by the call. Sometimes tone of voice and inflection speak volumes- many express anger, shock, unhappiness or disbelief that they have been called regarding the employee.
We are calling you as a reference regarding (the candidate).
- “I do not care to comment at all. I let him go and that’s all I care to say!”
- “Are you certain he gave you my name?”
- “Hold on, let me get the legal file to see what I am allowed to say”
- “I’m surprised she even listed us on her work history.”
Allison & Taylor estimates that 50% of their references come back as “lukewarm” or “negative”. In view of the critical employment stakes involved, consider having a simple reference check conducted that will tell you definitively whether or not a reference is providing a positive, professional response to inquiries made about you. If they are not, you can take proactive steps to prevent this continued spread of negative information, either through a Cease & Desist letter or through more aggressive legal recourse.
To find out more about reference checking, please visit Allison & Taylor.
Here is what one Allison and Taylor, Inc. client had to say after receiving her report of her professional reference check.
“Thank you for the report. You confirmed the HR Director’s uncooperative behavior”
Don’t wait until its too late to find out what your former employer is telling your potential employer about you.