'The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form.' - Randall

December 10, 2007 6:30 PM

Question within about a request from a potential employer for additional references that I can't provide (not because they're bad, just due to circumstances), and how to handle the process of saying "no, sorry" to them.

Short form: I've applied for a job I'm interested in and qualified for, had two interviews, and now the potential employer is in the process of checking my references, so I'm obviously a finalist. I originally provided four references, then last week they requested that I provide a reference from a specific previous employer, which I did. Now, today, they're asking "Is there a current or former supervisor with whom we can speak?" I've only had three jobs in the past 20 years, and there really isn't anyone I can provide that will fit that description. How do I tell him this?

Longer form: Worked for First company for 14 years; job was eliminated, left. Worked for Second company for one school year, left. Am currently working for Third company, where I have been for 3 1/2 years.

Obviously, I don't need my current supervisor to know that I'm looking for a job, so I can't provide a supervisor reference from there. Second company was a small nonprofit, and the Executive Director retired shortly after I left - I have no idea how to contact him. I have many friends at First company (where they requested the additional reference, which I provided - someone who was doing the same job as I was at the same time) but First company is a very, very large corporation with very strict rules about not commenting on any former employees. I had three supervisors while at First company - one left the company, got married and moved to Ireland, and the other two still work there and thus would be unable to comment.

I'm pretty sure that if I can't provide the reference they're requesting I won't get the job. But in the small hope that I might be able to somehow salvage this, I need some suggestions on how I tell the hiring manager (via email) that I'm not able to provide the information they want.

Thoughts and suggested email language welcome.

posted by anastasiav to Work & Money (11 answers total)

Is there any reason you can't tell them what you told us, in a condensed form?
posted by mpls2 at 6:37 PM on December 10, 2007

Give them the references for First Company anyway, but explain the situation to the hiring manager. I can't imagine that this isn't a pretty common situation, and none of it looks shady to me. First Company's reference policy is not your problem, at all.
posted by restless_nomad at 6:39 PM on December 10, 2007

Response by poster: Is there any reason you can't tell them what you told us, in a condensed form?

I'm not sure how professional it would be to lay it all out like that....
posted by anastasiav at 6:46 PM on December 10, 2007

Document your good-faith efforts to locate the people who might be able to give you a reference. Perhaps you can document your request to Large Company. Just being transparent might be enough-- if you try to get documentation, and you care enough to show that you're trying to get it, that might be enough when you can't.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:51 PM on December 10, 2007

As long as you left First company on good terms I'd give them the names of the two supes that you know and the contact info of their HR Department. Have them go through HR if its not policy then let the other company explain it.
posted by bitdamaged at 6:52 PM on December 10, 2007

I agree with restless_nomad. Letting your hiring manager know that First Co. has the policy will keep him or her from getting suspicious if your references don't say anything.

Sample sentence you could e-mail, "Attached you will find contact info for Larry and Darryl, both of whom were my supervisors when I was at First Co. I believe First may have a policy against commenting on past employees beyond confirming dates of employment, but I encourage you to give Larry and Darryl a call to see what info they can provide."

Depending on the people, there's a good chance, I think, that they'll give them some info despite the policy.

Giving your hiring manager some people to talk to, even if they can't give real information, is still valuable.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!
posted by altcountryman at 6:53 PM on December 10, 2007

There is nothing wrong with saying they can contact your current employer if they are going to offer you the job, but otherwise you'd prefer to keep your job search confidential. It isn't uncommon to get canned if a current employer finds out you are looking and certainly any new company could understand that. 4 references is enough.
posted by 45moore45 at 6:55 PM on December 10, 2007

There is nothing wrong with saying they can contact your current employer if they are going to offer you the job

But after you get the offer, you still need to negotiate your compensation, which surely won't be any easier if your current job falls through due to this reference check.
posted by dixie flatline at 7:42 PM on December 10, 2007

Best answer: Show potential employer that you are resourceful, networked, and haven't burned a bunch of bridges in previous roles. Do the legwork with anyone you CAN find and beg them to give you a reference. In current job, did anyone leave there who you would feel comfortable asking for a reference? Don't over-represent who that person was in your company, be honest if they were peers or if they were an internal customer of some kind, but list them. Generally people will vouch for you if you make them feel guilty enough, promise to do the same for them, and ask them to take the call from home as a "personal reference."

DO NOT list anyone you haven't already gotten the okay from, and coached a little on what the new job looks like and why you'd be a good fit.
posted by pomegranate at 7:43 PM on December 10, 2007

Is the person requesting the new info an HR person at the new company? I've found that while the people interviewing you (i.e. the people you will be directly working for/with) tend to be sticklers for any info that might qualify or disqualify you, once the HR people get involved, it tends to be purely due diligence. Being HR people they're pretty knowledgeable and savvy about how these things work. They understand that it's not always as cut and dried as "here's the number of my old supe, give him a ring". HR also might be more likely to understand the discretion necessary to contact your current job without blowing your cover.

If it's not HR checking references, then that can work in your favor as well. Here's your chance to show potential new employer that you're professional, respect the rules and guidelines of your old company, but are willing to go the extra mile to show your worth. Pretty much What Pomegranate said. Give them the # for the first company's HR dept. I'm guessing if it's a large company and you were there for 14 years, they either have a file on you, or would be willing to collect and pass on a statement from a previous supervisor. Not allowing employees to give references protects a company from liability should an employee say the wrong thing. A reference that has been vetted by HR might pass muster. Much in the same way a statement to the press has to go through PR first.
posted by billyfleetwood at 8:36 PM on December 10, 2007

Finding the retired Executive Director of the nonprofit second company shouldn't be too hard, and well worth doing if he will remember you and he liked you. (And assuming he retired healthy.) Charities etc have to be registered, these records may be public. If the nonprofit's still operating, see if anyone who knew you is still there. If it was associated with a church or some larger charity or something, try through them.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 9:08 PM on December 10, 2007