bad reference cost me a job

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 31, 2008

How badly do you want that particular job? If there is a chance that the hiring manager could be swayed to give you a chance anyway ... you could talk to her and explain your view of the situation, emphasing the many positive lessons you learned through that preceptorship.

You might also supply a letter or other documentation that contradicts the negative reference. For example, did you receive a written evaluation of that preceptorship? Was it positive? Did you get a good grade? If not, then why did you list it/her as a reference? If your grade/student eval was positive, provide copies of that eval/grade ASAP to the hiring manager. Act quickly.

If the job you sought is already filled and it is too late to pursue it ... you need to start all over again. Do not list the person who gave you the negative reference as one of your references. Find someone else and/or be sure to provide plenty of evidence/documentation of your satisfactory performance during the preceptorship. Either that, or don't mention the preceptorship one way or the other.

I'm sorry you had to learn this lesson the hard way ... but you should never ask someone for a reference unless you know it will be positive. If there were problems with your preceptorship, then you should not be using it/her to get a job. If there were no problems, you should have the documentation to show that you did a good job and someone you can use as a reference to attest to that fact.

Rachi321 · Dec 31, 2008

How badly do you want that particular job? If there is a chance that the hiring manager could be swayed to give you a chance anyway ... you could talk to her and explain your view of the situation, emphasing the many positive lessons you learned through that preceptorship.
You might also supply a letter or other documentation that contradicts the negative reference. For example, did you receive a written evaluation of that preceptorship? Was it positive? Did you get a good grade? If not, then why did you list it/her as a reference? If your grade/student eval was positive, provide copies of that eval/grade ASAP to the hiring manager. Act quickly.
If the job you sought is already filled and it is too late to pursue it ... you need to start all over again. Do not list the person who gave you the negative reference as one of your references. Find someone else and/or be sure to provide plenty of evidence/documentation of your satisfactory performance during the preceptorship. Either that, or don't mention the preceptorship one way or the other.
I'm sorry you had to learn this lesson the hard way ... but you should never ask someone for a reference unless you know it will be positive. If there were problems with your preceptorship, then you should not be using it/her to get a job. If there were no problems, you should have the documentation to show that you did a good job and someone you can use as a reference to attest to that fact.

there were no specific problems during the preceptorship i tried to explain my case but it was pretty clear the manager has changed her mind and was kinda using it as way to not hire me. the only thing she said in my evaluation is that i might enjoy working more in a med/surg floor instead of an oncology floor, but i asked her if i could use her as a refrence and she said yes, i dont have the documentation because all that was given to my teacher yes i should have made copies but i didnt know that id be dealing with this , i just thought that when someone agrees to you listing them as a refrence they are going to say positive things im probabaly naive in this way thanks for the response

Botto · Jan 1, 2009

I must add that if you are hard pressed to find someone to give you a good reference it is worrisome to me. I do understand the Nurse Managers response. She doesn't know you, have a history with you. All she has to go on are the assessments of your past performance.

This former preceptor... not a nice person at all ! If she had issues with your performance she should have not agreed to be a contact person and more importantly should have spoken to you about the concerns she had prior to this conversation with your prospective employer.

Maybe there is a gray area here, but it is my understanding that it is unlawful for a former boss/supervisor/educator to give a bad recommendation. I well knew this in the Biz world and later on when I was speaking to my Dean in NS, she indicated that when employers would call her regarding a former student she had little respect for, all she could lawfully do is confirm the dates of attendance and graduation and remain mum on her negative assessment of the students character or ability.

Whether or not this is useful in your situation or applicable to preceptors, I don't know.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2009

did the new job actually tell you they are re-tracting that offer based off of that reference?? As legally---one can only state the dates of employment and if the applicant is eligble for re-hire.

Now we all know that sure other things may have been said---My advice is start somewhere else and dont use that reference.

Good luck.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2009

did the new job actually tell you they are re-tracting that offer based off of that reference?? As legally---one can only state the dates of employment and if the applicant is eligble for re-hire.
Now we all know that sure other things may have been said---My advice is start somewhere else and dont use that reference.
Good luck.

Actually, that is a myth. A former employer can state anything that they can back up and are willing to stand behind, especially if it was documented.

Most companies choose not to do so, because in the event that their bad reference does cost someone the ability to obtain a job and they get sued, the company giving the bad reference will have to prove their allegations in court....which may be hard to do if it wasn't documented.

This is why most companies have a "dates only" policy...it's to reduce liability, not because the law says they can't.

But illegal for them to give more information?

No...perfectly legal.

caliotter3 · Jan 1, 2009

I lost several job opportunities when a manager who had stated they would give a good reference, did the opposite. I did not find out about this until I was told by a hiring manager who "unhired" me after speaking to my reference. I was forced to contact an attorney to act in my behalf with the former employer. How in the world is one to know that they are being stabbed in the back by such a lowlife? I would never tell someone that I would give a good reference for them and then do everything to see they couldn't earn a living. If I ever thought so poorly of someone, they would clearly know, from me, not to use me as a reference. I have often thought about contacting the person in question and asking him what my daughter's children ever did to him. He successfully hurt the people who rely on my income. He must be very proud.

Unfortunately when some sick person pulls something this low on a jobseeker, there is no way to know it is happening until a prospective employer divulges the information. They typically won't do this to avoid liability. There is no way to know about this ahead of time. Most people will not approach someone for a reference if there was a bad working relationship.

AWanderingMinstral · Jan 4, 2009

Well, I always make sure that I get a photocopy of my annual written evaluation and I emphasize to all prospective references that I am looking for a positive recommendation. Good luck!

CathyLew · Jan 8, 2009

ouch. how did you end up putting somone on your reference list that gave you a negative recommendation? Did you really think you did a great job at that position, and thought you were going to get a glowing report? Just curiouse. Or did you just write down names you could think of?

honestly, I have had people ask me if I would be a reference...and have told one person, they may be better off asking someone else. They got the hint! I wasnt' going to sugar coat them. And I was surprised they would even ask me, considering how bad a co-worker they were!

Rachi321 · Jan 9, 2009

ouch. how did you end up putting somone on your reference list that gave you a negative recommendation? Did you really think you did a great job at that position, and thought you were going to get a glowing report? Just curiouse. Or did you just write down names you could think of?
honestly, I have had people ask me if I would be a reference...and have told one person, they may be better off asking someone else. They got the hint! I wasnt' going to sugar coat them. And I was surprised they would even ask me, considering how bad a co-worker they were!

i thought i did adquate maybe not amazing but she still told me i did a good job, and i asked her if i could list her as a reference and she aid yes... i would have rather she had told me to consider someone else if she didnt think so highly of me, like you did to your coworker. but i had no idea she would bury me like that when i asked her if i could list her

crimson and clover · May 1, 2009

I know that this is a later post, but you can always have a professional service check your references for a fee. These companies copy verbatim what was said as well as provide an analysis of the way things were said, such as a former manager's tone when discussing you.

LIjeany · Jun 3, 2009

i worked in a facility for over 20 years and than a lowlife don started there, we had a personality confilict, and she terminated me, i cannot leave out 20 years of my career off my resume, i was told before i left that they would only give out my date of hire and last day of employment, not true, i have been unhired by every job that hired me, apparently after a negative reference, even my lawyer said that anyone could conclude that if i worked at the same facility for over 20 years, trained other nurses, without any problems until this don came along, that it was personal. i dont know what to do, this situation is terrible