How to Bounce Back After a Bad Job Reference

You have gone through the job interview process, and you’re excited about receiving a potential yes. You have discussed your experience, asked thoughtful questions, and even negotiated salary . There’s just one more step to close out the selection process – providing references.

Sometimes, companies include references in the interview process as a formality and hiring managers don’t actually reach out. In other cases, hiring managers actually do reach out to every reference you list in your application.

What do you do when one of your references gives you a bad referral? Does that mean the job prospect is a lost cause? Don’t count yourself out just yet. Your weaknesses in a previous role or a negative relationship with a manager does not have to impede you. You can rebound after a bad referral and still put your best foot forward to land the job.

Here’s how to bounce back after a bad job reference and land the job anyway.

Contact Your Former Employer/Manager

It’s important to address the bad reference head on. Reach out to your former manager and inquire about the bad reference. You should actually always check with a former employer before listing them as a reference. This allows you to know what they will say in their recommendation.

If they’ve already sent in a less-than-stellar reference, call and try to make amends for whatever situation led to the bad reference. Avoid being argumentative. Instead, take time to listen to their side of the story, and take accountability by using “I” statements. Offer solutions and apologize where needed. By actively listening, you might just be able to salvage this work relationship and walk away with a positive outcome.

Vet Your References

After you have done your due diligence to make amends with a former manager or boss, find alternate references. Be sure to prioritize vetting all other references. In the future, before listing someone as a reference, reach out to understand what type of reference they will provide.

By managing future references, you prevent a bad reference from ever happening. If you have several positive references, hopefully, it will drown out the noise of one bad reference.

Ask Former Colleagues and Friends for Help

Another way to bounce back after a bad job reference is to ask your friends and former colleagues for help. Ask them to call and see what the reference from your former boss would be. Ask them to let you know what the former employer says.

Make sure to do this before including a person on your list of professional references. If the review is negative or the person is unresponsive, don’t list the company as a reference.

Clarify With Prospective Employers

Explain the situation. If the ship has already sailed on a bad job reference, then the best thing to do is address it with a potential employer. In your interview process, call out the bad reference, explain what happened and why. Take ownership of your actions. This is a sign of maturity and a responsible employee.

Show Your Professional Growth

As the saying goes, show don’t tell. In your conversation with a potential employee, quantify how you have improved and grown.

For example, if you were late on your previous job a lot, explain how you have been on time or early in recent months. Show how your time management skills have improved and how you will prevent tardiness in the future. Whatever you do, show progress.

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