Check My Boss
What Makes a Bad Job Reference?
Not all references are equal. A bad one can cost you a job you had otherwise won. Here are the signs that a reference is hurting you rather than helping, and what each one tells an employer.
Negative feedback
The clearest sign. A former manager or colleague criticises your performance, work ethic or how you treat people. Any comment that dwells on weaknesses raises a flag for the employer listening.
Reluctance
A reference who hesitates or seems unwilling to recommend you is telling the employer something. A flat endorsement lands as a warning even when nothing negative is said.
Vague answers
Employers want specific examples of what you did and how it helped. A reference who cannot give any, or who dodges the question, reads as someone with little confidence in you.
Personal attacks
A reference is expected to stay professional and stick to your work. Disparaging remarks about you as a person are a serious warning sign, and the employer will hear them as one.
Contradicting your resume
If a reference's account of your title, dates or duties disagrees with what you wrote, the employer starts to doubt your honesty. Make sure the story matches before anyone is called.
Refusing to confirm basic facts
A willing reference confirms your job title, how long you worked there and what you did. A refusal looks evasive and damages your credibility even if the reason is innocent.
Not answering the phone
An employer who cannot reach your references draws their own conclusion. Unreachable references suggest you did not prepare, or chose people who do not care enough to answer.
Doubts about fit
A reference who wonders aloud whether you would suit a company's culture gives the employer a reason to pass. Fit matters to hiring managers because it predicts whether you stay.
What to do about it
Keep good relations with former managers and colleagues. Ask a reference's permission before you give out their details, tell them which roles you are applying for, and find out in advance what they will say. That last step is what Check My Boss does: we ask your references the questions an employer would ask and show you the answers word for word. Find out what your references will say.