Handle Bad References

In a very competitive job market, employers want to hire qualified individuals who are proven to succeed with minimal risk. Therefore, bad references can cause your candidacy to be disqualified. If you find yourself in a situation where you have at least one bad reference, it is important to take necessary steps to minimize the negative impact it will have on your job search.

Steps

Being Proactive in Anticipation of a Bad Reference

1. Identify the potential of a bad reference. References can be given to potential employers in 2 different ways, and it is up to you to identity the potential of a bad reference.
   • Reference letters or contact information you submit. The point of a reference is to back up your qualifications for the job. Before you ask someone to be a reference, you have to determine if this person will say positive things about you. Look back on your working relationship thus far. Is there any reason this person may not provide a good reference? Were there any working or personal issues in the best, even if you think they were resolved? If you have any doubt that this person will mess up your chances to get the job, do not use them as a reference.
   • References sought solely by the potential employer. This can include previous supervisors, colleagues, or previous HR representatives. You have less control over this type of reference because you never know who and when they will contact these individuals. If you have had any issues with a potential reference contact, try to take measures listed below to minimize your risk of damage to your candidacy.
2. Research company policy about references. Contacting HR or looking in your employee handbook will help you understand each company's policy on reference checks, also called employment verification. To reduce their liability, your current or previous companies may only provide certain information if contacted by a potential employer. A potential bad reference may not be a concern (unless they breach company policy) if the company is only allowed to confirm certain information such as the following:
   • Dates of employment
   • Title
   • If you left on good standing
   • Your pay
3. Have someone call on your behalf to see what is said. You can have a friend or a reference-checking service contact your current or previous employers in order to find out what is said about you. If there is a strong potential to have a bad reference, it is best to probe deeper than general questions about title and dates of employment.
   • Asking about your abilities, skills, work ethic, punctuality, and character (whether they are allowed to answer or not) will let you know what will be said to real employers and allow you to plan for the bad reference.
4. Provide multiple good references to eliminate potential contact with the bad reference. By providing ample information from other good references, you may eliminate the need to contact a potentially bad reference. Providing contact information and reference letters from a mix of current and previous supervisors, colleagues and mentors may eliminate the need to contact anyone further.
   • Three to five of these types of references should be good.

Handling the Aftermath of a Bad Reference

1. Contact HR if statements are inaccurate. If you know what information has been provided during a reference check and you feel this information is negative and inaccurate, it is best to contact that company's HR department. When you contact HR:
   • Explain your situation—“I am looking for a job, and they have chosen to contact this company for a reference check.”
   • Describe what you know was said and by whom it was said—“My previous manager John has said that I was repeatedly late for my shift and sometimes had to leave early.”
   • Tell your side of the story to prove inaccuracies—“I had to take my mom to physical therapy after she broke her leg. I expressed interest in changing my shift time, which I was told I could not. John then made arrangements with me to work additional hours to make up for work time missed. We had an understanding that this was a temporary situation.”
   • Express that the false information is having a negative impact on your job search—”In saying that I have been repeatedly late gives the wrong impression and is effecting my job search. John and I had an understanding due to the temporary situation and should not be a factor moving forward.”
   • At this point, many HR companies will fear a lawsuit and handle this situation in a manner to minimize their risk. Therefore, the bad reference most likely will be asked to modify their response for further reference checks.
2. Explain the situation to the potential employer. When you have done all you can do to prevent a bad reference from being contacted or given, it is best to speak honestly about the situation to the potential employer. By choosing your words carefully when discussing the reason for a bad reference and telling your side of the story, you can reduce the negative impact it may have.
   • For instance, instead of saying, “I was fired because my boss hated me,” you can say, “We parted ways because of our differences.” Then explain why this would not be a factor in your next job: “At this point, I am looking to find a company that cares about its employees with managers who help others succeed.”
3. Provide multiple good references to counteract the bad reference. If you have received a bad reference, it is important to not let that stick in the potential employer's mind. You should provide 3–5 good references that will negate or diminish the bad reference.
   • For example, if you get one bad reference about punctuality but 3 other references explain that you have been punctual in the past, it raises doubt that you have an issue.
4. Accept what has happened and move on. Following the steps above will help you identify and counteract a bad reference. Unfortunately, you may still be stuck with a bad reference because of your work history. At this point, it is not good to dwell on a bad reference.
   • Also, don't give up on your job search! Eventually, you will find a company that will hire you regardless of this reference.

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• Overcome Bad Background Checks
• Defend Yourself Against a Bad Boss

See also

• Write a Thank You Letter for Job Contacts
• Make a Reference Page
• Recommend Someone for a Job
• Give References Without Job Experience
• Ask for a Reference
• Know What to Expect from a Reference Check
• Tell an Ex Employer That Their Reference Letter Isn't Good Enough
• Write a Polite Reference for a Disliked Employee
• Choose a Work Reference
• Give a Negative Employee Reference

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