Did you
and your former boss have a less than amicable relationship? If so, you might feel a little wary of
including them on your list of references when job hunting. However, if you fail
to include your former boss on your reference list without providing a good
reason why, some employers might be hesitant to hire you. Below are a few tips
on what to do when there is a risk that your former supervisor will give you a
bad reference:
- The first thing a job seeker should do is learn
about their former company’s reference policy. To avoid lawsuits, some
employers only provide the facts about former employees such as their job
title and dates of employment. If that is the case with your former employer
then you don’t need to worry about getting a bad reference.
- Next, job seekers should do a little homework
and find out if their former manager has ever given anyone a bad
reference. If a bad reference has been given to another colleague DO NOT
include the manager on your reference list.
- If there wasn’t a total war between you and
your former boss, take the time to reach out and find out if they would be
willing to offer a reference for your job search. You would be surprised
to find that this direct approach can be helpful and many former
supervisors are more than willing to at least provide a fair reference,
while avoiding negative comments.
- Finally, if you are unable to get a positive
reference from your former boss, find another person at management level
or even a peer who has had the opportunity to review your work.