Overcoming a Bad Reference

What do you do when you have a job offer and your previous employer won't offer a reference?

You made it through the interview process and nailed a great opportunity. Congratulations!

Now, the hiring company is asking for your references and you know your last boss is going to say something negative. You didn't get along and it wasn't a great relationship - in fact, that's a big reason why you were job searching!

Are you currently working with the company? If so, no worries. It’s standard not to include your present employer in your references because they often don’t know you’re job searching, to begin with. The vast majority of hiring companies understand this.

Is it a past employer? Whether it's your most recent role or a job from a few years back, the sting of a bad reference can be just as painful. In lieu of your direct manager, is there a manager you reported to in some way or worked closely with who can give you a reference? Will your manager’s manager or the HR director provide the reference? If so, use one (or more) of them. If not, develop your references from other roles.

What if the bad reference was your first and only career experience? If you are a recent graduate, a negative reference can be particularly stressful because you don't have a wealth of experience. Reach out to professors, internship managers, and part-time job managers to fill out your references. You may be tempted to include friends and family, but they don't belong on a reference list unless you worked with them in a professional capacity. Even then, Professor Andrews is often seen as a more credible reference than Aunt Ally.

What if the hiring company asks why you don't have a reference? If the potential employer asks why you don't have a reference from your direct manager, be honest and positive. For example:

“My role with Widgets-R-Us allowed me to learn quite a bit about X, Y, and Z. I had a strong relationship with many managers and coworkers, but my direct manager and I had different working styles that weren't always in sync. There are people who can better explain my contributions there, and I’d be happy to provide you with those references.”

The key to successfully overcoming a negative reference is this: DON'T STRESS. Stay calm, positive, and truthful, and you'll be in your new role before you know it!