On your resume, have you ever misrepresented who your supervisor was to avoid an undesirable reference?

Question

Wouldn't this be a basis for termination?

You can also discuss situations where you know of someone else who has done this.

Answer 1

Basis for termination?

On a job application, it's possible.
There's legalese about false statements,
and if someone wants to fire you, that
could be an excuse.

On the resume - that's a different story.

Why?

The resume should never have any reference,
supervisor, or friend's name and information on it.
Someone could contact that individual without your
knowledge. An unprepared reference may stumble and give a false impression, or become very negative because YOU posted his or her information on a public document and sent it to thirty or more strangers.

Of course, letter of references available upon request is an assumed statement, it doesn't need to be added to your resume. People write it, anyway.

The interview is the best time to present your three to five letter of references.

Note: Temp services and search firms ask this information upfront to get more leads. Ugly.

Robert
Resumecrazy

P.S. Protect your references, and they'll protect you.

Answer 2

Your resume typically does not have the names of past supervisors. Most people simply say 'references available upon request'.

The people on your list of references should all have been asked if they could be listed (don't assume they'll say good things!). When you leave an interview where you shared the names of your references, call them and let them know that they 'might' be called soon. Describe the position, and give them a heads up if you think you know what the supervisor will be asking about (teamwork or leadership or attention to detail, etc.)

Remember that MANY companies won't let employees act as references -- because there is a slight fear that if you DIDN'T get the job you applied for 'because they gave you a bad reference'... you might sue. It has happened!

So, to 'hide' the name of a supervisor, provide his/her title, and give the phone number for corporate office (out of state?) -- a reference check call would be routed to HR, who won't say anything except your hire date, last day worked, and (maybe) title held. So, the number is legit, but not helpful.

Answer 3

I listed somebody else as my supervisor once because my supervisor was an unintelligent boob. However, the person I listed was still in the company management list, so wasn't outright misrepresentation.
Note, you don't normally list supervisors on a resume, but on an actual application. If you have already submitted the resume, and are being asked to fill out the application, you have passed 2 steps on the way to a job offer.

Answer 4

Yes, and without regret. I have always worked hard and given my employer far more than I have ever received in return - it's the work ethic which our parents instilled in us. I worked 50 hours a week for 40 hour's pay at a natural health clinic. This doctor's practice had stagnated for 12 years. In the time I was with him running his front desk and doing his marketing, his practice tripled. He thought that bringing his cousin in who was an "expert" in marketing (though she had no such formal training), was the way to really expand his business (once he got a taste of real money). I had been there 5-1/2 years and she had been there 5 minutes when I got a demotion and she became Executive Director. I still treated her with respect and never had a cross word with her. She informed the doctor she could not and would not work with me and I was summarily fired on the spot. Technically, the woman who did our insurance was the office manager and I put her down as my reference, though when I left, cousin Executive Director was my superior, and I use that term loosely. She had no idea how I worked or what I did so when I went looking for another job, I put down the name of the office manager, not someone who got me fired because she disliked me on sight. As it turned out, cousin Executive Director still intercepted the call and lied to my potential employer stating that I took a lot of time off work (I missed three days out sick in 5-1/2 years and 1 week when I got socked in during an ice storm and no one else got out either). She shaved an entire year from my tenure stating I was only there 4-1/2 years. She lied about how much I was making and she told them I was not EVER eligible for rehire. I still do not regret having named someone else as my supervisor because I don't consider three days of making unfair judgement on someone you don't know being my supervisor. Fortunately, my prospective employer figured something was up because I was just too believable. They had the forethought to ask for an old pay stub. When I proved my salary and my length of employment with old pay stubs, they figured out I was getting hosed for no reason and didn't believe the rest of it either. I got the job and it turned out to be the job of my dreams.

Answer 5

References are very important.

These may served as basis in the acceptance and termination of a job.

Answer 6

No, because they are just going to talk to HR instead of that supervisor anyway.

For legal reasons, about all they ask these days is if the dates you worked there are what you listed, and if you are eligible for rehire. I don't think they can ask much more than that anymore.

Answer 7

Yeah I've done it. As a matter of fact I still do it. I get somebody else that I worked with to say they were my supervisor. It's harmless really. And there's no way to prove otherwise.

Answer 8

In many states, former supervisors are not allowed to tell your new employer anything except basic logistical information such as name, dates worked, salary, etc. They are not allowed to give their own opinion.

Answer 9

No, I haven't. Don't know of anyone who has.

Answer 10

yeah i have to admit that i've done it... they didnt fire me so i guess it was alright :)