A good friend of mine (and fellow Marine Corps wife) recently relocated with her husband to his latest duty station across the country. While fortunate enough to find a new job within days of relocating, she was horrified to discover her previous employer had given her a less-than-desirable reference!
This is infuriating on so many levels, not only because it’s increasingly difficult to find a job in our economy, but also because there are so many confidentiality and privacy acts that exist in our country to protect employees from situations just like my friend’s. Let’s face it, not everyone gets along with or has great chemistry with their boss. But if you do your job and do it well, should it really matter? Absolutely not.
So what do you do if you didn’t get along with a former boss? First of all, remember that previous employers and human resources are extremely limited in what they can and cannot say. It’s only the ignorant bosses that cross that line and an interviewer can spot those people from a mile away!
Below are some tips to help you handle any questions that may arise in an interview on the topic gracefully and professionally:
Leave them off the list. If it’s just one boss you didn’t mesh with, do not include them on your list of references. As long as you have at least two other people who will review your work favorably, it won’t matter. Sure, a new employer will want to ensure you get along with other staff members, but more important to them is your experience and length of time at your previous jobs. Instead of your boss, list the head of your department, and always make sure you have enough on-the-job references.
Maintain professionalism at all times. If you’re asked about your boss, DO NOT say anything negative. Not a single word. If you are forced to comment, just tell the truth: you and your boss did not have great chemistry. And leave it at that. The interviewer will be able to read between the lines.
Contact your references before your interviewer does. You ask for permission before you list someone as a reference, so make sure you give them the courtesy of letting them know ahead of time that an interviewer may be calling them. This will help ensure that you stay on good terms with your reference.
Ask for a recommendation letter. As a boss, recommendation letters are a part of their job, but sometimes they can be difficult to get, so NEVER leave a job without obtaining one first. This is especially helpful if you know you won’t include them on your list of references; you can provide the letter to the interviewer instead. And, if you don’t have enough people on your list and must include this boss, you have written proof to the contrary if they don’t give a favorable reference.
Keep in touch with your references. People move (especially in the military), get new jobs and change phone numbers all the time. Make sure your list has updated job titles and contact information for each person. Otherwise, you’ll make a horrible impression on the interviewer.
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