Has a previous employer ever blacklisted you??

[Anonymous]

Just because OP is annoyed on here does NOT mean she is like that in her normal day to day life. She is probably having a bad day and reacting to the idiot posters on here who are rude in their own right. Do not make assumptions about people on an anonymous forum because I bet you are completely wrong more than half the time. Face to face with people in real life are completely different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

14:23 - on the money. OP, lots of employers are asking about "good fit" these days. If the new employer knows to ask the question, and you were not a good fit, it might be held against you. Working well with others can be as important as your PhD most places. Often, it is as important to find someone not on your reference list as it is to find the names you provide (because of course you are going to provide favorable references!) This from experience.

OP, this is spot-on. If you can't learn to ignore negativity and rise to the bait even on an anonymous forum, I shudder to think about how you handle normal workplace politics. No wonder you are having trouble.

My advice is to work on your attitude and realize that, in the professional world, how you are viewed by others can affect your career more than your actual skills and abilities. Whether you were a good teammate and co-worker will go a long way to making sure you're given good references and that people will pass job opportunities your way in the future.

This is also from experience (HR for a large organization).

thanks for this. you are right -- i don't navigate office politics very well especially when baited.

[Anonymous]

Even if one bad apple is after you, if you've been around long enough, there should be plenty of others who you've worked with in and out of your organization to support you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again OP - were you fired? What were the circumstances under which you left? Give us more info and we'll give you a "work around".

yes - i was let go. it is a long story -- one that would reveal my identity if i give too much detail. you never know who is on this site. i don't know or did not keep in touch with anyone.

Go find some former co-workers on Linked In. I can't imagine not having anyone in the entire company that won't give you a reference. In the future, do not burn every bridge. One bad supervisor shouldn't cancel out the entire company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't know what phase of your career you are in, but a few words of advice.

1) Consider another field. The only way to be 'blacklisted' is if you're in a small industry where everyone knows each other. It can happen, I agree.

2) Check yourself. Please take a good hard look at your situation and how you could better react in similar situations in the future. It may seem like people earn success by competing and winning (and this making enemies), but you can get really far by just being nice and diplomatic, even if someone is evil or intentionally making your life a living hell. Always take the higher road and try your best to never make enemies (even if it means giving a fake smile and 'hi' sometimes or letting things roll off your back).

3) Go back to the people who you know would give you a good reference and get one in writing. Letters are great and if anyone is super-hesitant to write a letter, it's because they won't refer you as a good employee - so drop them as a reference.

4) Stop the drama. Yes your situation sucks, whatever it is, and people are being mean/vindictive/evil. Distance yourself and rise above. Be the professional. And follow the MOST IMPORTANT rule of being a professional: Don't ever, ever say anything bad about someone else. You never know who is listening and when you bash someone, it makes you look petty and unprofessional. Even if they left anchovies in your shoes, let other people figure out who the bad guy is.

Thank you! This is helpful. It seems that in my last position turning the other cheek got me in more trouble.

[Anonymous]

Blacklist?

[Anonymous]

OP- I was in a similar situation and feel your pain. my boss was crazy, and hated me for no reason (except personality clash.) it all worked out in the end because i lucked out and my present place of employment never called them for a reference. good luck.

[Anonymous]

i had a friend call and pretend they were a potential employer, to find out exactly what was said!

[Anonymous]

back yourself up with TONS of good references (professional-clients, co-workers, etc.) from as many people as you can. That speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha OP- I like the "stick your head in the oven bitch" comment. I work in an industry and in the DC area where alot of people talk and I left my old job with no bad relationships other then one manager who has tried to take my name down everywhere I go. What advice are you looking for specifically?

This. I have heard employment agencies keep lists of people they will not invite for further projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe my previous employers have blacklisted me. How would an employer go about doing this?

Were you fired? Did you quit? What were the circumstances that led you to leave the company? There are many reasons a company may not give you a shining reference. For what it's worth they legally cannot say anything "bad" about you, what they can say is that they would not rehire you.Why not call Human Resources or your former manager and ask if they've had any reference calls for you and talk about what is being said?

How are you certain you've been blacklisted? I just find it odd you think this because it really only happens if they employee was a nightmare and even then all that can really be said is that they would not rehire you.

Think about what you may have done to be let go, or when you left. You could always give your potential employers a heads up and let them know what may be said and present your case to them as to why you should be hired.

I don't know where people get the common misconception that your former employer cannot say anything "bad" about you. Absolutely untrue. Your former employer can say anything he/she likes about you, as long as it's true and correct. If you screwed up on the job and I call your former employer for a reference, your former employer can be truthful with me and tell me "He was a huge screw-up." Now, if you were NOT a huge screw-up, and they are telling me that because they fired you for being pregnant, or Muslim, or whatever -- THAT is what is illegal. But simply telling the truth about the fact that you were a terrible employee is not in any way illegal. And you have no grounds for protesting that you are being "blacklisted" because your former employer(s) is giving correct and accurate information about your work record.

Now, having said that, many employers are so leery of lawsuits for defamation that they will only provide dates of employment and the information as to whether a former employee is eligible for rehire, and nothing else.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you a nanny?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you a nanny?

No -- I am not a Nanny.

[Anonymous]

So why not contact HR just to get some feedback on the issue?

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm still interested to know the circumstances under which you left this company. Prior to staying home with my children I worked in HR. It sounds like you may have quit with no notice, been let go, or were a "bad" employee". There is a part of this story you're not telling us.