Press Room

For Immediate Release

Presenting a Wisely Chosen List of Employment References is Crucial - 5 Alternative References to a Bad Boss

Over 50% of Job Seekers Find Out Too Late That Former Supervisors Provide an Unflattering Reference

DETROIT, MI (June 2, 2015) - When selecting your references for job applications, two words of advice: choose wisely. You had better assume that potential employers will, indeed, contact these parties and that your former supervisors will likely be at the top of the list - even if you haven't voluntarily offered up their names on your application.

If you are concerned that you and your former boss didn't part on the best of terms, you may wish to identify other corporate contacts with whom you had better relationships (or who are perhaps more likely to simply follow company policy and confirm only your employment dates and title).

Alternative job reference contacts might include:

1. A 2nd level supervisor with whom you had favorable dealings or a dotted line

2. Someone in senior management who you believe might offer favorable, or at least neutral, commentary about you

3. Peers, co-workers or corporate clients who can personally attest to your skills and expertise

4. Your Human Resources representative, the party most likely to follow corporate policy and limit their commentary about you to prospective new employers

5. Your subordinates, who really know better about your performance

Even if your relationship with your boss was a stellar one, consider choosing additional references from this list above to present employers with a more representative sampling of your overall attributes.

It's important - even critical, say the reference-checking experts at Allison & Taylor - that you select from these possible reference categories with care, choosing the people that will reflect you in the best possible light. Most job seekers would be surprised to know that over 50% of the references Allison & Taylor contact provide a lukewarm or poor response to reference inquiries.

What constitutes a desirable reference? Ideally they will have had a favorable working relationship with you in the past, are supportive of your personality traits and work ethic and - most critically - will attest to your skills and expertise to potential new employers.

It's also key for these people to be aware that you've listed them as a reference, and that they know how to respond on your behalf when an employer calls them- something that should be discussed in advance.

The timing and format of presenting this reference list to a prospective employer can also play a factor in getting that new job. Be sure to have a list of your references readily available (in the same format/font as your resume) to be given to a prospective employer upon request. Better still, offer it at the conclusion of an interview -it can create a very proactive (and favorable) ending impression.

Here is the format favored by Allison & Taylor (www.allisontaylor.com), employment experts specializing in reference and background checks, Cease & Desist letters and resume re-writes:

Showcasing a diverse offering of references in a concise and powerful format will help to distinguish you in a sea of job seekers. For a critique of your references, or assistance in rewriting them in this format, please click here.

To find out more about reference and background checks, Cease & Desist letters and resume re-writes, please visit www.AllisonTaylor.com.

# # #

About AllisonTaylor:

AllisonTaylor and its principals have been in the business of checking references for corporations and individuals since 1984. AllisonTaylor is headquartered in Rochester, Mich. For further details on services and procedures please visit http://www.allisontaylor.com/.

AllisonTaylor — Find us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter

Media Contact:
Jeff Shane
Jeff@AllisonTaylor.com
800-890-5645 toll-free USA/Canada
+1-248-672-4200 direct-dial
AllisonTaylor.com

Back to Press Room