Reader provides another idea for checking your own references
Last week, I responded to a reader who had received a bad reference that cost her a new job offer. She asked what she could do to figure out which of her employers gave the poor reference, so she could eliminate it from her list.
A reader responded with this suggestion:
“There are businesses that will, for a fee, contact an employer to ask for an employment reference for their client. After leaving one employer, I used one of these, due to some personal (and non-work related) issues with my supervisor while I was employed there.
The questions are asked for the agency's 'client', whose name isn't mentioned. Questions are the usual name-rank-serial number questions, then the "would you rehire?" question. If the answer is no, then they ask, "Why not?." For me, this was the most important question of the set. I found out that I didn't need to worry about the reference from the former supervisor, which gave me a lot more confidence in applying for jobs. I was also able to verify that they had my employment dates correct in the files, as well as other details.
If there is any doubt about what an ex-employer/supervisor would say, particularly if there were hard feelings between whoever would be providing the reference and the ex-employee, then the ex-employee should ask for copies of their performance appraisals and job description at the time they ended their employment. This isn't a bad idea anyway, since it provides the ex-employee more detail on the kinds of things they did, did well, and needed improvement on. Having that information at hand can help someone better match their skills and experience with a future employer’s needs.”
Here is another job-hunter’s question: What is the best approach to finding a job?
Dear Joan:
I am unemployed -- I have been for the past several months. I would like to know the best approach to getting a job when, as I have heard reported, more than 80% of the jobs are not even advertised.
I have spent a good deal of time on the net and have come across the same sort of listings but I’ve received no real responses. Lately I have considered going through a company like Hoover's and creating my own mailing list to contact companies directly -- in the form of a networking/ informational interview request letter. I wanted to know your thoughts on this. By the way I live in Orlando Florida.
Answer:
It’s old fashioned networking—not internet networking—that is the secret. If you ask one hundred people in a room how they got their last job, eighty of them would likely tell you it was through someone they knew.
Rather than casting a mailing list net over employers, which is probably not going to yield much, I recommend that you start weaving your own net.
Here’s how:
Create a list of everyone you know—yes, that’s a long list. Brainstorm with your friends, past colleagues and family members. Then write down where they work. Put a star next to the names of the people who are well-connected: people with a good reputation with many friends and associates. These stars are valuable contacts and can often serve as the portals to many other circles and networks.
Next, start contacting the people on your list. Don’t ask them for a job. Rather, ask them for advice and referrals to people they know who can give you some information or introductions to other people. Yes, it does take more time than a point and click but do you want results or don’t you?
Everyone you meet can provide a piece of valuable help. One might be able to critique your resume, another could introduce you to his brother-in-law who runs a company, and someone else might know of an opening in his company.
I like the idea of forming your own list of companies to whom you can send an informational interview request. But without a referral in the first line of the letter, you aren’t likely to snag much interest. So, create a letter and then customize it based on the people you meet and referrals you get.
Target some companies you would like to work for and start asking people in your network who they know in those companies. If you see an ad posted online or in the newspaper, you can tap your network to see if they know someone on the inside who can provide more about the job.
Ask your network if they are willing to bring you along to events hosted by their professional organizations, so you can meet new people and expand your network. You probably have contacts from your prior job; vendors, co-workers, suppliers are usually good sources of job-hunting referrals.
Joan Lloyd has a solid track record of excellent results. Her firm, Joan Lloyd & Associates, specializes in leadership development, organizational change and teambuilding. This includes executive coaching, 360-degree feedback processes, customized leadership & presentation skills training, team assessment and teambuilding and retreat facilitation. Joan also provides consulting skills training for HR professionals. Clients report results such as: behavior change in leaders, improved team performance and a more committed workforce.
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