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[Larlight]

So I applied to a job that I was so close to getting until they rescinded the offer from me. Apparently, the director of the department that I was supposed to work for called the company I worked for and I heard through a friend who works there that they didn’t leave good feedback. But the issue is, there isn’t anyone at the company that is still there that I worked under or with anymore. Covid caused a bunch of lay offs so who the hell did the director talk to get such negative feedback? I am currently working a temporary job so they didn’t contact my current employer because they have history with the previous employer I worked at.

What do I do in regards to finding out the negative feedback I received? If I can’t use them, what do I put on my resume then? This employer is the one I spent the most years and received the most experience from. I left on good terms with the people who used to work there so I dont know what to do.

 

[nush]

Get a friend to act as "Your former manager". It's either a phone call or a form they need to fill in for the reference, it's 5 minutes work tops.

 

[Larlight]

Get a friend to act as "Your former manager". It's either a phone call or a form they need to fill in for the reference, it's 5 minutes work tops.

The issue is the director has past experience with working at this old employer of mine. She might be cool with some of the people. But the people I specifically worked with are gone. They didn’t need a number to contact them technically.

 

[nush]

But the people I specifically worked with are gone. They didn’t need a number to contact them technically.

Ok, start a linkedin account, contact all your previous collegues and ask if they'll leave a reference on there for you. That's what I also do.

 

[BigBooper]

Are you American? Most of the companies I've worked with make it a policy to never comment on a past employee because if they make an assessment without evidence it opens them up to lawsuits. If they have documented stuff though, like say you left the job without notice, they would release that.

If you really want this job, in this case you have to plead your case to her. Get in touch with former contacts as mentioned above, but make sure she knows the full story too. Whatever that may be. Some HR people are soulless automatons, but some can be reasonable.

 

[Virt McPolygon]

The issue is the director has past experience with working at this old employer of mine. She might be cool with some of the people. But the people I specifically worked with are gone. They didn’t need a number to contact them technically.

Listing any previous coworker, supervisor, or manager(ask them beforehand, of course) as a professional reference should be acceptable. Especially with how common temp/contractor roles are these days and like you mentioned- layoffs related to covid.

Most of the people I worked with just a few years ago are now at different companies/assignments.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

So I applied to a job that I was so close to getting until they rescinded the offer from me. Apparently, the director of the department that I was supposed to work for called the company I worked for and I heard through a friend who works there that they didn’t leave good feedback.

I don’t know if you wanted a job but what you described is a big NO - you should at least refrain from doing back background checks, or if you really are doing it you should also take an official reference from an applicant and call them as well.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Some HR people are soulless automatons, but some can be reasonable.

Recruitment and HR and completely different things - I would be weary of any company above 20 employees that has HR handling recruitment, HR is simply not suited to correctly evaluate potential employees.

 

[nush]

HR is simply not suited to correctly evaluate potential employees.

It's true, they just process forms. There's no insight of the applicants experiance becuse they give these admins the keys. Bitches know they are safe in a company when they can camp out in that position.

 

[SF Kosmo]

So I applied to a job that I was so close to getting until they rescinded the offer from me. Apparently, the director of the department that I was supposed to work for called the company I worked for and I heard through a friend who works there that they didn’t leave good feedback. But the issue is, there isn’t anyone at the company that is still there that I worked under or with anymore. Covid caused a bunch of lay offs so who the hell did the director talk to get such negative feedback? I am currently working a temporary job so they didn’t contact my current employer because they have history with the previous employer I worked at.

What do I do in regards to finding out the negative feedback I received? If I can’t use them, what do I put on my resume then? This employer is the one I spent the most years and received the most experience from. I left on good terms with the people who used to work there so I dont know what to do.

It's literally illegal for them to say anything bad about you in this situation. If you use an individual as a personal reference they can, but if they're doing a background check on your jobs they're just supposed to confirm the dates you worked there and your title.

 

[cherry2000]

Pretty shit thing to happen, sorry to hear that man.
I've acted as my own reference. When I got the evaluation form I filled it out using broken English, trying to channel a Vietnamese manager. Maybe get a friend to act as referee from another (fictional?) job you held. I've done that too and I just told my friend what to write/say.

 

[AJUMP23]

Don’t use a manager from that company use a person you worked with even if they are no longer there. You just put the reference and their direct info in the references and clear it with them beforehand.

 

[ClanOfNone]

Vandalay Industries, you worked for Vandalay Industries. They manufacture latex products.

 

[Larlight]

Thanks everyone. I'm partly over this bullshit. But I'm hoping my friend who works there can find out more info and perhaps see if there was a mix up or confusion or something.

 

[BigBooper]

Recruitment and HR and completely different things - I would be weary of any company above 20 employees that has HR handling recruitment, HR is simply not suited to correctly evaluate potential employees.

You're right, but I've had it happen a couple of times where HR runs screening interviews and then you interview with the specialists.

 

[Larlight]

You're right, but I've had it happen a couple of times where HR runs screening interviews and then you interview with the specialists.

That's how it was as well. The HR person did a phone interview with me and then I did a web interview with the department.

 

[Star-Lord]

I was always under the impression that the company, by law, cannot give a negative reference, but they can refuse to give a reference completely. Or, if they do give a bad reference, they can only do so if they have a strong belief what they’re saying about you is true, and they have sufficient evidence to back it up.

 

[Tschumi]

Er, I'm pretty sure you can ask them straight up, no need to be James Bond about it, just email them and say, in tones entirely devoid of emotion, could you let me know why i just lost a job because of negative feedback from here?

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Er, I'm pretty sure you can ask them straight up, no need to be James Bond about it, just email them and say, in tones entirely devoid of emotion, could you let me know why i just lost a job because of negative feedback from here?

99% of the time you will get the response that 'they don't share specific details about the interview process'. It protects the company from possible lawsuits.

 

[*Nightwing]

Assuming this is a case in the US, and unable to find any link that isn’t trying to sell something but this is all I could find:

State Laws on References and Statements By Former Employers

Many states regulate what an employer may say about a former employee—for example, when giving a reference to a prospective employer. Does your state make employer

www.nolo.com

Depends on the state but you as the former employee can request they send you exactly what they provided to your prospective employer in most states as it is your personal information.

 

[zeorhymer]

https://www.donatilaw.com/blog/2021/january/can-my-former-employer-say-bad-things-about-me-/

Short answer is, yes they can talk smack about you. You have to prove that they lied about whatever the previous employer is saying.

 

[Boss Mog]

Two words for you OP: "Vandelay Industries"