Reference Letters

[dewaltman]

Hi all. Does anyone have any experience with dealing with References?

I would like to see a sample request letter as I want to send a dummy one to my previous employers (of some 12 months ago) to see what they are going to say. (I'll use my brothers company name to come from and get it sent to his address!)

I did leave on my own accord, but whilst leaving, I had some issues with my line manager and would like to know if they are going to put anything about it so I can 'manage' this with future employers.

My current employer has had one when I was leaving, some 12 months ago, and not wanting to stir up a hornets nest or anything, I don't want to ask anyone if it was clean (I presume it was or they'd have brought it up with me!)

I won't mention the company name, but it's a multinational firm.

Edited by dewaltman on Monday 4th October 18:34

[edc]

With all due respect they will want to know they are sending a reference to a legitimate person. The employer can look for info on role applied for, use of headed paper, company business address etc. Joe Bloggs at home address is possibly going to be ignored!

[dewaltman]

I appreciate that. I was going to send it from my brothers company, so it would be on headed paper.

Thanks for the advice though.

[plg]

Most multinationals won't give a "reference" - especially one that talks around performance / etc.

They will simply state that Mr XXX worked from 01/01/08 to 01/01/09 as a permanent member of staff. The role title may also be stated.

But mostly they are scared of being sued for deformation, etc to make any comment on performance or issues.

[dewaltman]

plg said:

Most multinationals won't give a "reference" - especially one that talks around performance / etc.

They will simply state that Mr XXX worked from 01/01/08 to 01/01/09 as a permanent member of staff. The role title may also be stated.

But mostly they are scared of being sued for deformation, etc to make any comment on performance or issues.

Thanks, but they will state if there was any disciplinary issues, and this is what I want to know if they logged it.

I just want to know if anyone has a standard template letter I could use/adopt. I appreciate the advice, but I don't need advice on what they may respond/etc.

TIA

[otherman]

I work for a FTSE100 company and we do give reasonbly meaningful refs. Any long absences, discipliniaries would be mentioned but only stuff which is factual. The nature of the discipliniary may not be mentioned because the case can be argued, but the fact that it was followed is a matter of fact. So if you simply 'had issues with' a manager I think its unlikely to come out in a reference.

[dewaltman]

Thanks otherman, can you give me an example of a letter you would receive, and how it's laid out?

TIA