(Note: If you missed Part 1 of “The Unexpected Phone Call”, read it here.) Most people feel they can count on a reference from a previous employer to help them secure a position with a new employer.  The longer you are part of the work force; however, the greater the chances are that you left at least one employer on unfavorable terms.  What can you do when a potential employer calls your previous employer and receives unfavorable information about your performance?

If the information passed on is malicious, there may be legal recourse; however pursuing a legal remedy takes time and money. Both are resources you may lack, especially if you have been out of work for several months. Sometimes, finding a simple solution is better than seeking a more complex one.

My point is as follows: it is imperative that you choose your references carefully. A poor relationship with a former supervisor can be a major obstacle to re-employment. By choosing dependable references (and possibly give your prospective employer a “heads up” regarding conflicts with a previous supervisor), you can turn the odds for re-employment back in your favor.

Last time, Beverly (or Bev for short) received a call from an individual at her previous position.  Although Bev was sure that her former boss, Mary, would give her a good reference, Bev found out that it was, in fact, Mary who was sabotaging her job search.  How would Bev conquer this problem?  Please read on…

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(Writer’s Preface) I have gone through a great deal of ups and downs in this experience we call job search.  The one I am writing about today does not belong to me; it belongs to one of my network contacts.  I made some minor changes to preserve the anonymity of those involved.  I felt, however that my contact’s experience is worth sharing.  Although I would not wish this experience on anyone, it shows how one of the worst obstacles to re-employment can be resolved. 

The Unexpected Phone Call:  Part One

It was a Friday Morning during the month of March.  Beverly (most of her friends call her Bev) was starting her day.  She was unemployed for eight months, and never expected her time between jobs to last this long.  Bev was never one to give in to persecution complexes; however she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone out there was inhibiting her attempts at re-employment. 

During the past months, Bev had several interviews; however the result was always the same.  She would be called in for a first interview, and in most cases she would be given a follow up interview.  Bev would always e-mail thank you letters and follow up with every prospective employer.  Despite her follow up calls, Bev would not receive responses from many prospective employers, even when they promised to give her a fast answer about the position she applied for.  Eventually, some employers told her that the position she applied for was filled, and refused to give any further details.  Bev would always ask follow up questions as to why she did not get the job, however she never received any information that would point to a specific reason.

On this particular morning Bev would discover the main reason why she never received employment offers…

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I felt like I just had to get away from things for awhile.  I found myself driving down to Florida.  I don’t know why I decided to take this journey, however here I am, travelling south on a four lane highway.  I noticed the speed limit was 65 MPH.  When I travel unfamiliar roads I always make it a point not to exceed the posted speed limit.  However there was something strange going on.  I glanced at my speedometer.  I was going exactly 65 MPH.  I was in the left lane and all the other cars were driving much slower.  “Why is everyone driving at least 20 MPH slower than I am?” I thought as I them.

   It was at that point I noticed a police car on my tail.  His sirens started blaring and I moved to the right lane. The policeman signaled me to pull over.  Why was he pulling me over?  Was I doing anything wrong?  I slowly moved my car off to the side of the road and shifted the car into park.  As the policeman asked for my license and registration, I asked him if there was any problem.

  “Didn’t you see how fast you were going?” the officer asked in a demanding tone.

  “Officer, the posted speed limit is 65MPH.  That’s how fast I was going”, I responded

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Job loss was one of the most difficult experiences I have had to face.  During the last few weeks in my previous position, I recalled several job search horror stories which raised my level of concern.

The one that hit me the hardest was told to me by a former co-worker.  He told me about Janet, an independent young woman who lost her position as an Electronics Buyer several years ago.  Although she was optimistic that she would find another position quickly, her optimism disappeared after many of her employment applications were not answered.  Month after month, despite her best efforts, she was unable to land another job.  She was unemployed for a total of two years, when her previous employer re-hired her. 

During that time she made major lifestyle changes.  When cutting corners and selling most of her treasured possessions weren’t enough to make ends meet, she took more aggressive measures.  She eventually had to give up her independence and moved back in with her parents.

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Last week I met one of my former co-workers.  I was really happy for him six months ago when he told me that he landed a great position.  When we met, however, I immediately noticed that he was not as cheerful as he was when we last spoke.  I asked him if everything was OK, and his answer was as follows:

“This is really upsetting. I was out of work for nearly a year; and as you know, I was relieved when I finally landed a job.  I took a modest cut, but I was glad to be working.”

My former co-worker continued; “I was on the job for less than four months and everything seemed to be going well.  All my projects were on schedule and the ones I had completed for were finished under the allocated budget.  I expected a stellar six-month review.  But that is not what happened.  A day before my four month anniversary, I was called into the Director’s office.  I was laid off.  They told me that the company had a budget crisis which forced the layoff.  So here I am, out of work again!”

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