3 Tips on Overcoming a Bad Job Reference

While having a bad job reference is not the end of the world, it's not much fun and can create problems when you're looking for new employment. Overcoming a poor reference is not impossible, and good strategies can help you get past this stumbling block. The more tools and strategies you have, the better your chances will be at not only making an impression on potential employers but also in creating opportunities for real career advancement.
             
Once a former employer or other referee makes their mind up about you, there's not a lot that you can do about it, particularly if you're no longer involved in the organisation. It may be that there was a personality conflict, a disagreement over work, or just a misunderstanding.

Whatever the reason, sometimes we do end up with a bad reference. When you move on and apply for jobs, you may find that your references are a stumbling block. You might have a great cover letter and fantastic curriculum vitae, but you come unstuck when they speak to your referees.
           
You might be aware of what your referees say about you, or you might not. Some say ignorance is bliss, but I say knowledge is power. I'm going to give you three great tips on how to beat a negative job reference.

Above all be honest:
             
There's really no problem in being upfront with potential employers and telling them that you had some difficulties with a former employer, and lay out the nature of the issue and the reasons behind it.

At the end of the day if you are using the person as a referee (and in some circumstances that will be necessary) it's best that the person doing the reference check knows your side of the story first. It's not good if you paint a great picture of your skills, experience and attitude, only to have a job reference from a disgruntled former supervisor ruin all your hard work.

Know what your references say about you:
             
I cannot stress this point enough. If you genuinely don't know what your previous employer is saying about you, then it's time you did. There are a number of ways of finding out this information. Of course you can ask them yourself, but who knows whether you'll be told what they will tell a potential employer when they call to ask about you.

You could have a friend call them and pretend to be a prospective employer, but that's hit and miss - besides, do you want your friends to hear what your former boss says about you? The best solution is to engage a company to do the check for you. There are reputable firms out there who perform this legitimate service professionally and with discretion. The cost varies from company to company, but ask what you get for your money and you can make the decision about whether it's right for you.

Be creative:
           
A job reference is important, there's no denying it, but it's not everything. Life goes on, even when you have a bad reference to deal with. If you're stuck for ideas on how to beat it, then ask around, get information. Stand out from the crowd. Change industries, volunteer, go travelling, work from home. The point is that there is always something else. There are more and more opportunities out there each and every day - all you need to do is think, look, try, and take a calculated risk every now and again.
           

A bad reference is an inconvenience, and nothing more. Getting a job is difficult, that's true, but you can't just rely on what other people say to get you that job. You must be proactive, not reactive. Get on the front foot and take control. If you think a bad job reference is holding you back and getting you down so that you can't think what you can do to overcome it, find out for sure. Engage a company to contact the person you think is providing a bad reference and find out what they say about you. After all it's your reference, your career and your life. Take control.