How do you fight a bad reference from a previous manager that was?
Get good references if you can. Have you worked under another manager with the firm. If you had better luck with the previous manager, list them as the point of contact. Have you worked closely with other former employees who can talk about your work and work discipline? Make sure they can speak knowledgeably about your work and not just spout generalities. If so, make sure they are listed. Have you worked with prominent customers or vendors? Can they credibly speak about your work? If so, they should be good references, Now let us get to the hard part. We need to address the negative reference from your former boss. Why are they bothering to torpedo your references. Most former employers want to get the former employees off their back by helping them get a new job. What did you do to anger them? Do not raise this issue at an interview. Do be prepared with an answer that will not damage your chances. Do not be surprised to hear that you have done more to sabotage yourself than they have. Were you fired for cause (e.g., theft, violence in the workplace, lying on your resume)? If so, in many jurisdictions your old boss may be legally permitted to raise the issue. If so, have an answer ready (e.g., long time ago and you have gorwn in the following ways) Why are the reference questions going to your old boss and not HR? Most HT offices in Europe and North america will stick to terms of employment starting salary and ending salary. If this is a larger business, list the general headquarters phone number for the business or the HR direct line. How long were you working for this company? How important a credential is the company? If it is a small unimportant company and you only worked for a few months, the smart thing may be to drop it from your resume and foscu on training or volunteer work you did during the period. This goes double if you have changed fields or havegone onto better things. For example, almost nobody cares about your college job delivering pizzas once you graduate.