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Who to use as a reference for a temp job?

winterportage — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:20:33 -0800

Do I have to use my direct supervisor as a reference? I am another twentysomething with a B.A. navigating the world of temp work.

I've been doing a temp job at a great organization for the past 5 months as a receptionist and admin assistant. During that time I did a variety of different tasks for several different people, such as doing data entry for the accountants and promotional writing for the director of communications.

I did not have a lot of interaction with my direct supervisor and I don't think they have any idea what I'd been doing during work (receptionist duties were minimal). I should add that my contract is not being renewed because their usual receptionist is returning. When I was hired it was known that I would only be there for 5 months, and though I am sad it is over, that is something I knew going in.

So who would I use on my resume as a reference? I am going to be applying to basically any job that I am qualified for, although in an ideal world I would love to be paid for writing of some sort (I now have a bit of experience). The office was a very sociable place, and there was recently a big conference to organize, so I feel like I bonded well with quite a few of the employees. Is this just something I have to choose for myself, or is there some protocol that I should know about?

Thanks for your help!

Saying "That won't be possible" isn't really possible

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:16:20 -0800

The question: Should I provide a lukewarm reference for my recently fired ex-manager to avoid awkwardness? Or should I tell him no, and if so, what is the code language to use? I can't say "Sorry, that won't be possible" for reasons outlined herein. The story:

My manager recently left my small company by "mutual decision." I know for a fact he was fired; part of the impetus for the CEO and COO firing him was that he was a poor manager and largely incompetent at his core, non-management job skills. I think he is so un self-aware that he believes it really was a mutual decision. It's clear he does not know 1) he was a bad manager, or 2) that I and my teammate were told by the CEO and COO that they fired him in part so that we would stay.

This ex-manager is a very nice person, not malicious, a schmoozer/biz dev kind of guy, completely ineffectual as a manager, does not take initiative to keep abreast of our niche industry, isn't as skilled as my teammate and I at what he was hired for, and kind of dippy. It seems he's continually failed upward through the years. And my CEO, to smooth the firing, offered to help the ex-manager by giving him good references. The CEO does not want bad blood in our niche industry, which in our city has a lot of cross-hiring throughout the years because the pool of qualified people is pretty small.

Now the ex-manager has asked my teammate and me to give him good references as a manager. Neither of us feels he was a good manager. I've been avoiding it for several days but would like to give him an answer.

I don't feel comfortable saying "Sorry, that won't be possible" because I'll continue to see him everywhere at industry events. In the future, it's not impossible he'd be working for a theoretical company I really want to work at.

If I give a positive recommendation, I'm just helping to close off more potential management doors for me to transition into. (I'm a woman, so there's a bit of resentment on my part and assumption that part of the reason he's failed upward is because he's a man, whether that is fair or true.) I really resent the fact this person has been allowed to move through multiple management positions--each lasting less than two years--earning a higher and higher salary each time, with few core skills or management skills. As I'm typing this I'm remember his ungraciously taking credit for the work done by my teammate and me, even though that is not at all the culture in this workplace. Oh, and I'm also remembering how at my annual review he vaguely intimated some things that weren't true and then refused to provide examples--which I reported to the COO because it was now part of my employment record here. I can't say that was a part of why he was let go, but it's part and parcel of his being a shitty manager.

It doesn't seem ethical to tell him I'll give a positive recommendation and then tell the hiring company something overtly negative. I won't do it.

If I tell him no, I can't do it, how can I preserve a decent chance at non-awkwardness? If I tell him yes and then give only a lukewarm recommendation, is that terrible? Do people do that? Is there secret code language I can use to make it clear on the surface I think he's a super nice guy to have around the office, but not to expect him to be good at anything?

Is it acceptable to seek out a reference from someone in the past?

cyml — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:30:24 -0800

I am applying for an internship and I want to ask someone to give me a reference. However, I haven't been in contact with them for two years. We parted on good terms. Is it acceptable for me to ask them for a reference still? If it helps, it is an internship with a political party. He is a politician that I volunteered extensively with during campaign time. He offered me a job two years ago but I was travelling so I was unable to take it. He would be a perfect reference, but I don't know if it's all right for me to ask after two years of no contact.

If not, how do I find references? I'm self-employed so I don't have any work references. I go to school but I'm not close to any of my professors.

Best practices for approaching busy ex-employers for reference? And how to explain longer stay at university?

Anonymous — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:48:09 -0800

I'm a new grad entering the workforce. What's the best way for me to approach busy busy BUSY ex-bosses (so busy they have phone gatekeepers, cuz they're always on the phone with Very Important People) to use them as a reference? I left them on good terms, but it's been at least two years and no contact in between. Several related questions ahead. 1. Phone or email? How much chit-chat/specifics about potential new position?
2. How often should I ask them? Every time there's a new interview asking for a reference list, or at the beginning of a general job search, or other?
3. Do I by default ask them if I could include them as a reference list, or should I pre-write a letter of recommendation for them to edit/sign/format into PDF and email back to me? What do people hiring prefer? Advantages of a letter of recommendation is that they don't need to call the person, but the letter of recommendation may be too general because I don't want it to be super tailored (which requires me to contact the ex-employer too often for approval, which may irritate them)
4. Should I include them in a list of references if a job posting asks for one before the interview process? Or do I owe it to my past employers to keep their information private?

----
Part II

How do I explain a longer stay at a university? I worked full-time for a year, which should explain that, but there's another year I have to explain. Plain truth is, I was supposed to graduate a year earlier, but didn't. I still learned valuable skills from volunteering/networking/other enriching activities, but did no full-time schooling or work in the past year. There was some travel, but not that much. It was a relaxed and fulfilling year, I don't regret it, but it did me well for personal reasons rather than professional ones. Advice?

Between a rock and a hard place?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:04:36 -0800

New Job Filter: My references provided negative feedback, OR I'm possibly being nit-picked by new job's HR? WTF. Now what? I interviewed for a new job last week and the hiring team and hiring manager all unanimously agreed that I was perfect for the job. I was even sent home with reading materials to start studying up on the new work to be done. I received an offer for the position the next day, signed my offer letter (which states the job is 'at will' employment - e.g. can be terminated by either party at any time) and started my background check.

The background check was completed this week and two discrepancies showed up in title of past positions held. The HR Representative called me to discuss and everything is fine, although it seemed very nit-picky to me to be discussing discrepancies in titles (I work in an industry where titles are pretty much irrelevant). I would like to add that this background check was extremely thorough. I had to provide W2s and exact dates from previous positions held up to 10 years ago. They dug all through my credit, past addresses, criminal history (none, obviously), even parking tickets.

I was asked to provide four references with three being from past Managers. I provided my four references. The reference check was done via an online survey by HireRight.

Well, today I received a phone call from the HR Represenative noting that they might not be able to move forward with me as a candidate due to negative feedback from my references that they will not disclose to me. They are intending on calling my references directly. Not a problem I told them! I agreed to this and upon hanging up the phone, immediately sent my references emails noting that HR would be contacting them to clarify a few questions. All references responded to me positively, noting their best telephone numbers to reach them at and best of luck and such. No red flags. I had asked all references if they would be open to providing me with a reference for the position PRIOR to me even submitting them as a reference.

Meanwhile, the hiring manager emailed me to let me know that she is following up with HR and understands that there are a few questions and to call her if I would like to discuss. I called her immediately and talked about it with her. I explained that I spoke to HR and followed up with all references so they know that HR will be calling. She mentioned that three of my references indicated that I didn't have the quickest follow-up time in the past. However, she also sounded very reasonable and told me to 'sit tight' and that she's the one making the hiring decision and that the team's gut reaction was to hire me because they felt I would be a great fit and enjoyed speaking with me. This made me feel a little better.

I got home this evening and I just received another phone call from the HR Representative who is requesting additional references. I told her that I really don't have anyone else to consult. She asked me if I could try to dig up old contacts who I've lost touch with on LinkedIn (honestly, I do not feel this is appropriate) and I politely indicated that I am not comfortable doing this. She also asked for me to send her past performance reviews (I have no idea if I even have any saved!) I diplomatically pushed back letting her know that I may not be able to accommodate these requests but will see what I can do. I also received the impression from her that she had not spoken with the hiring manager as she seemed a little taken aback that I had called the hiring manager. I told her that I'm willing to help move this process along and that I'm excited to be part of the team. I also asked the HR Rep to clarify what specific information they are questioning and she noted that at this moment she doesn't feel it is appropriate to disclose this information.

Ok. This is like, my dream job. I don't know what to do in this situation. Help? I cannot give a reference from my current job due to a toxic situation and my previous position which I held very briefly (7 months) prior to the job that I'm currently leaving, I left due to political drama that I don't feel like re-opening. All references are from that job backwards. They only want additional manageral references and I really don't have any others! Advice? Am I totally screwed and should just assume I don't get the job after all??

How to cultivate your rolodex without overtilling?

Kurichina — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:35:33 -0800

What, if anything, do you do to keep in touch with old contacts when you don't really have any reason (providing or asking for a reference, answering questions, etc.) to speak with them? I am once again in the process of looking up old contacts and am somewhat anxious about asking for references from professors (yes, I know, it's part of their job) as, having been in the workforce for many years, I'm not sure they remember me very well by now. (And I have a work reference, but need an academic one as well.) I did drop one favourite undergraduate professor a note when I noticed he'd moved to a different university a few years ago, but I always feel odd contacting someone that I haven't had reason to contact in years. I'm not in the same geographical location as any of the universities I attended, so I don't "run into" these people at events or anything like that. Should I be pursuing some kind of semi-regular contact or it is fine to be asked for a reference from students and/or employees after years of no contact?

How do I repair my relationship with my job reference?

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:09:03 -0800

My grad school professor would be an important job reference, but I screwed up our relationship. How do I repair it? I was a research and teaching assistant to this professor and she spoke highly of me to others in the department. I graduated in May 2007 and she offered me a short-term project with her consulting company. I started it, and then a confluence of events happened (death of a close family member, moving out of state, relationship problems). I was overcome with depression and anxiety, and did not finish the project. Basically I left her and her client hanging. I didn't return phone calls or emails. I never charged them for any of the work (which was 80+ hours), and I don't know what happened to the project.

I was unemployed for six months and after several half-hearted attempts to find jobs in my field, I took an unrelated job that is frankly beneath me. I've been on medication for my mental health issues and am doing much better on that front. I really want to get back into my field, but I'm afraid I've burned my bridges with this professor, and I don't know how to approach the situation after all this time has passed.

She is a crucial reference for me because she is well-known in my field and well connected in my current city of residence. There are other professors that I could contact, but she has undoubtedly told them what happened (she told everyone when another TA became unreliable). I really did not network enough when I was in grad school, and I did a similar thing at an unpaid internship (disappeared and left them hanging) that also would have been a good reference. What can I do? This is paralyzing me with fear and stopping my job search.

How to write my own professional reference?

coriolisdave — Tue, 24 May 2005 17:29:52 -0800

How to write my own professional reference? I am applying for a Masters course, and as part of the application they have requested that I submit a reference from my current role. My employer wants me to write it myself, however I don't have any examples to go on, or the first idea where to begin. Everything I've tried so far has come out as a dry "He was here."
Any tips? Anything I should specifically include/exclude? What sort of language should I use? How effusive/modest should I be, and how much detail should I get into about specific instances of 'good stuff' (if they should be included ata ll)?