I think my former employer is giving me (undeserved) bad recommendations. Recourse?

[Anonymous]

I left my last job for personal reasons. My performance reviews were always very good. I was trusted with a number of important projects, right up to the end. I didn't burn any bridges leaving (or so I thought).

I've had a hard time finding a job, but so have many other people, so I wasn't suspicious. Last week, I had a great interview, for a job that I'd fit perfectly. The interviewer told me he wanted to give me the job, and that he just needed to talk to my last employer first.

I didn't hear back, so today I called the company. They said they're "going with another candidate." I was really shocked, because he'd all but handed me the job at the interview. I've been trying to figure out what went wrong, and I have a nagging feeling that my old boss lost me the job. I don't know for sure, of course.

Is there any way I can find out? I don't know why he would give me a bad rec in the first place, but I sure don't want to keep losing job opportunities! Is telling a potential employer that they CAN'T contact my last employer always the kiss of death? What can I do?

[Anonymous]

Have a friend call your old boss and ask for a rec, posing as a potential employer.

[Anonymous]

Is this the first instance of having a great interview and then not getting the job? It's probably just a coincidence.

Maybe an internal candidate decided to throw her hat in at the last minute, and the company culture is to promote from within. Maybe a VIP's child/neighbor/college roommate needed a job. Maybe the interviewer is a people pleaser and told all the candidates they were a perfect fit. Maybe you read too much into it. Maybe the next candidate to interview was an even more perfect fit.

If it keeps happening, maybe it's time to suspect something, but for now, brush it off and keep up the job search. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

As far as asking not to contact the last employer, I *always* specify not to contact my most recent employer, because they're the ones I'd be looking to leave during a search. I don't think that's uncommon. I guess it'd be different if you're currently unemployed.

[Anonymous]

They may not like how you left and that's their most recent memory of you.

[Anonymous]

OP, they may tell every candidate that he/she is perfect and that they want to give him/her the job. Plenty of interviewers say that when opinions are quite different. People are not honest. They don't have to be. The interviewers are meeting face to face with candidates and have no incentive to be honest.

Don't ever take it at face value at an interview when you are told you are perfect for the job or the job is just about yours. It is not.

[Anonymous]

Hire a private investigator to look into the matter, then hire a lawyer and sue for slander.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left my last job for personal reasons. My performance reviews were always very good. I was trusted with a number of important projects, right up to the end. I didn't burn any bridges leaving (or so I thought).

I've had a hard time finding a job, but so have many other people, so I wasn't suspicious. Last week, I had a great interview, for a job that I'd fit perfectly. The interviewer told me he wanted to give me the job, and that he just needed to talk to my last employer first.

I didn't hear back, so today I called the company. They said they're "going with another candidate." I was really shocked, because he'd all but handed me the job at the interview. I've been trying to figure out what went wrong, and I have a nagging feeling that my old boss lost me the job. I don't know for sure, of course.

Is there any way I can find out? I don't know why he would give me a bad rec in the first place, but I sure don't want to keep losing job opportunities! Is telling a potential employer that they CAN'T contact my last employer always the kiss of death? What can I do?

Not the kiss of death. Tell them they can not contact and they won't. If all your other references are positive, then no red flags just because you told them NO to contacting the last employer. Also, like the idea of having someone pose as a potential employer and see what your last boss says about you. If he/she ends up being the culprit AND what is being said is untrue, you have recourse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, they may tell every candidate that he/she is perfect and that they want to give him/her the job. Plenty of interviewers say that when opinions are quite different. People are not honest. They don't have to be. The interviewers are meeting face to face with candidates and have no incentive to be honest.

Don't ever take it at face value at an interview when you are told you are perfect for the job or the job is just about yours. It is not.

+100000 people can be huge bullshitters. I say this from experience as my husband has had several interviews where this convo has happened and guess what - he's still looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left my last job for personal reasons. My performance reviews were always very good. I was trusted with a number of important projects, right up to the end. I didn't burn any bridges leaving (or so I thought).

I've had a hard time finding a job, but so have many other people, so I wasn't suspicious. Last week, I had a great interview, for a job that I'd fit perfectly. The interviewer told me he wanted to give me the job, and that he just needed to talk to my last employer first.

I didn't hear back, so today I called the company. They said they're "going with another candidate." I was really shocked, because he'd all but handed me the job at the interview. I've been trying to figure out what went wrong, and I have a nagging feeling that my old boss lost me the job. I don't know for sure, of course.

Is there any way I can find out? I don't know why he would give me a bad rec in the first place, but I sure don't want to keep losing job opportunities! Is telling a potential employer that they CAN'T contact my last employer always the kiss of death? What can I do?

Any other possible red flags in your past? any type of legal "oops" when you were in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, they may tell every candidate that he/she is perfect and that they want to give him/her the job. Plenty of interviewers say that when opinions are quite different. People are not honest. They don't have to be. The interviewers are meeting face to face with candidates and have no incentive to be honest.

Don't ever take it at face value at an interview when you are told you are perfect for the job or the job is just about yours. It is not.

+100000 people can be huge bullshitters. I say this from experience as my husband has had several interviews where this convo has happened and guess what - he's still looking.

+100001.....same. Took DH 1.5 yrs to find a job a few years ago, even though he was told he was "the perfect candidate".