Employment reference - Reason for leaving

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xargs

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Wannabe Geek

#173245 16-May-2015 12:52

Hey all,

The reference I'm using for Company X left at least 3 months before I did. I didn't tell the reference why I left (it was simply because I resigned).

Is it going to be an issue if the reference is asked why I left Company X, and they aren't able to answer?

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Spark NZ

#1306262 16-May-2015 13:01

Can't see why it would be a issue of they can't answer something they don't know

andyb

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#1306264 16-May-2015 13:15

Can't you contact said reference and talk to them first? If I'm using someone as a reference I usually contact them first to let them know...

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jonb

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#1306281 16-May-2015 13:22

If it is for your most recent job, I would expect your reference to be currently working for that company. One question they are asked is to confirm employment dates, as well as reason for leaving.
If that is the case, consider having two people as references with one still working there. For the reference who no longer works there, give their current work email rather than their personal email.
If this for a job you left some time ago, should be fine having this person as a reference.

xargs

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Wannabe Geek

#1306285 16-May-2015 13:33

Thanks all. I've since worked at a couple of companies before Company X.
(I did speak to the reference recently, but didn't discuss reason for leaving).

ajobbins

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#1306288 16-May-2015 13:47

jonb: If it is for your most recent job, I would expect your reference to be currently working for that company. One question they are asked is to confirm employment dates, as well as reason for leaving.
If that is the case, consider having two people as references with one still working there. For the reference who no longer works there, give their current work email rather than their personal email.
If this for a job you left some time ago, should be fine having this person as a reference.

I know of at least two companies (One of which I have worked for in the past) that strictly forbid giving any kind of reference (written or verbal) for a current or former employee. The only allowable reference is a 'record of employment' from HR upon leaving. Not to say it doesn't happen (it does), but many of the people were unwilling because of the policy (at least while they were still employees there themselves).

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xargs

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Wannabe Geek

#1306294 16-May-2015 14:01

Heh, they must be afraid of getting sued.

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alasta

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#1306303 16-May-2015 14:34

jonb: If it is for your most recent job, I would expect your reference to be currently working for that company.

I never use references from my current workplace because I wouldn't want my current employer to know I'm 'shopping around'. Most employers and recruiters seem to be completely understanding of this in my experience.

alasta

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#1306305 16-May-2015 14:36

ajobbins: I know of at least two companies (One of which I have worked for in the past) that strictly forbid giving any kind of reference (written or verbal) for a current or former employee. The only allowable reference is a 'record of employment' from HR upon leaving. Not to say it doesn't happen (it does), but many of the people were unwilling because of the policy (at least while they were still employees there themselves).

Wow. I hope I never end up working for a company like that because it would seriously affect my chances of ever being able to find another job. It's tantamount to imprisoning their employees in their current workplace.

Handle9

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#1306319 16-May-2015 15:09

alasta:
ajobbins: I know of at least two companies (One of which I have worked for in the past) that strictly forbid giving any kind of reference (written or verbal) for a current or former employee. The only allowable reference is a 'record of employment' from HR upon leaving. Not to say it doesn't happen (it does), but many of the people were unwilling because of the policy (at least while they were still employees there themselves).

Wow. I hope I never end up working for a company like that because it would seriously affect my chances of ever being able to find another job. It's tantamount to imprisoning their employees in their current workplace.

The company I work for has a similar policy. What they do not forbid is a current employee giving a personal reference, rather than one on behalf of the company.

afe66

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#1306339 16-May-2015 16:08

ajobbins:
jonb: If it is for your most recent job, I would expect your reference to be currently working for that company. One question they are asked is to confirm employment dates, as well as reason for leaving.
If that is the case, consider having two people as references with one still working there. For the reference who no longer works there, give their current work email rather than their personal email.
If this for a job you left some time ago, should be fine having this person as a reference.

I know of at least two companies (One of which I have worked for in the past) that strictly forbid giving any kind of reference (written or verbal) for a current or former employee. The only allowable reference is a 'record of employment' from HR upon leaving. Not to say it doesn't happen (it does), but many of the people were unwilling because of the policy (at least while they were still employees there themselves).

Wow.

Thats sounds childish.

I hope they dont expect prospective employees to provide referee's when they are interviewing otherwise little bit hypocritical...

A.

lxsw20

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#1306352 16-May-2015 16:39

Record of employment is all my current workplace will give also.

They have given what they thought was honest feedback both positive and negative in at least two cases where it came back to bite them so the story goes.

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afe66

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#1306432 16-May-2015 21:48

Wouldn't your employer have to release the performance review paperwork if you requested it from HR ?
ie privacy act

Handle9

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#1306436 16-May-2015 22:02

afe66: Wouldn't your employer have to release the performance review paperwork if you requested it from HR ?
ie privacy act

A.

Maybe but that is very different than a reference. They are fundamentally two different things.

Geektastic

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#1306438 16-May-2015 22:10

ajobbins:
jonb: If it is for your most recent job, I would expect your reference to be currently working for that company. One question they are asked is to confirm employment dates, as well as reason for leaving.
If that is the case, consider having two people as references with one still working there. For the reference who no longer works there, give their current work email rather than their personal email.
If this for a job you left some time ago, should be fine having this person as a reference.

I know of at least two companies (One of which I have worked for in the past) that strictly forbid giving any kind of reference (written or verbal) for a current or former employee. The only allowable reference is a 'record of employment' from HR upon leaving. Not to say it doesn't happen (it does), but many of the people were unwilling because of the policy (at least while they were still employees there themselves).

This is standard practice in the UK, where reference requests are immediately referred to HR who send out generic "Mr Smith worked for us from X-Y and his conduct was satisfactory." boilerplate. There have been several instances where companies have found themselves in court because former employees have been given poor references by managers which have cost them job opportunities and the courts found that unfair.

I can see why, too - who wants a boss with whom you have a personality clash being able to affect your employment long after you left?

(Note to OP - I was initially confused until I realised you meant 'referee' not 'reference'.)

alasta

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#1306592 17-May-2015 13:01

Handle9:
alasta: Wow. I hope I never end up working for a company like that because it would seriously affect my chances of ever being able to find another job. It's tantamount to imprisoning their employees in their current workplace.

The company I work for has a similar policy. What they do not forbid is a current employee giving a personal reference, rather than one on behalf of the company.

But all references pretty much are personal, aren't they? Prospective employers seem to be interested in knowing the personal experiences that the referee had while working alongside you rather than any sort of official statement on behalf of the company. On those grounds I guess it would be difficult to legally prevent anyone from offering this type of reference if they're careful what they say.

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