Job reference?

Question

When you change jobs does your previous employer have to give you a reference if your new employer approaches them? or can they decide not too.

Answer 1

They do not HAVE to give a reference.

About the only info they have to give out is to verify things that you have said on your job application like your salary, what you did at the old job, etc. If you like on your application at the new job and say you were the manager or something, your old employer can say you weren't. They can also say whether you are eligible for rehire or not.

As far as a reference, if there is someone at your old company that you know would write a letter of reference, by all means ask them to. But usually a reference is a personal thing between you and a person at your old job.

Answer 2

Hi Louise, Your employer doesn't have to do anything, but you don't want a new employer to wonder why your old employer didn't want to write a reference.
It's down to you to look as professional and employable as possible so you may want to put in a lot of effort to ensure your old employer will writes you a (good) reference.

Of course, if you're sneaking out to be interviewed for another job, your prospective employer is likely to be discreet, and understand that your current employer must not know that you are looking elsewhere for a new job at least until you have handed in your notice. And in the case where the company you are leaving feels either bitter or betrayed, there might never be a time when they feel warm-hearted or generous enough to write a reference, let alone a good reference. But your new employer should understand that if you explain it to them and so is likely to ask you to provide the name of an alternative person or company to write a reference for you.

Answer 3

Truth be told, your previous job is definitely going to be a question or concern to someone consider hiring you. Who knows what you are capable of and what it is like to work with you day in and day out, than your last employer? They have useful information that might shed light on the position they need filled. Even if you left on bad terms or really don't like them, it doesn't necessarily mean they won't provide a good reference. In fact having this work experience is valuable for anything from an entry level job reference on up the chart. To answer your question, it is hard to know what anyone will or will not share, but they probably will be cautious because they need to consider their own reputation.

Answer 4

The rule of thumb is that they dont legally have to give you a reference however they cannot give you a bad reference. If you strugglew with references or left under a cloud of some sort its best to be homest with new employers and offer a character reference to them so they they will not become suspicious of worried about your past employment relationship
Good luck

Answer 5

They can decide not to. As in previous answers a bad reference is not allowed, so sometimes no reference is perceived as a bad reference.

Don't be afraid of supplying more than one referee to new employees. I'm still doing references for staff who worked for me over 10 years ago.

Character references from voluntary organisations should be acceptable too

Answer 6

Your old employer can either give you a good reference or refuse it, they cannot by law give a bad one so unless you had a fall out with him/her then there shouldn't be a problem

Answer 7

they can decide not to.

and besides, if they say you are really good, and you turn out not to be, they new employer can sue them for misrepresentation.

and if they say you are really crap, the data protection act allows you to see what they have said about you (new employer cant stop you from looking at your personnel file) and you can sue them for defamation of character.

so would you give a reference.............

there is only 1 question that matters, would you re-employ this person.

Answer 8

They don't have to give you a reference.

Answer 9

they are not allowed to give a bad reference,they can refuse to give one which is the same thing

Answer 10

its upto them