Leaving one job and moving to another can be a challenge but sometimes opportunity presents itself and you find the job that’s a fit.
Imagine having successfully navigated the demanding pre-screening process: You nailed your interviews and perhaps even received assurance that an offer was imminent but then you never hear from that prospective employer again. Clearly, something went awry – but what cost you that job?
At this point, consider that one of the final phases of the hiring process – the employer check of your references – may have been your undoing. “A majority of the references we check are for job candidates who suspect negative feedback from former employers,” said Jeff Shane, President of Allison & Taylor Reference Checking, a firm that offers professional reference checking services, in a press release.
Despite the fact that many companies prohibit managers from providing references, Shane notes that people most likely to provide negative references are former supervisors. “Perhaps a position of authority makes them feel that the company reference policies don’t really apply to them – or that there is no way that their former employee will ever become aware that negative feedback about them has been given out,” said Shane.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the overtly negative references that can be problematic. A vague answer or a simple “not eligible for rehire” from Human Resources can also doom an applicant’s prospects for future employment.
The most reliable way to ensure that your references are responding appropriately to employment inquiries is to conduct a reference check(s). If a reference check confirms negative or inappropriate feedback, you have the ability to take action to prevent further harm to your employment opportunities. One of the foremost options is to have a cease and desist letter issued that will help ensure that the transgressor will stop their actions out of fear of corporate reprisal.
A single bad reference could keep you unemployed indefinitely. Be proactive with your references and have them checked to ensure they are not costing you that new job.