How to Get References After you Have Been Fired

After being fired, you find yourself on the job market again. Everything seems to be going smoothly with your job search until you get those dreaded questions during an interview or on a employment application--"Can we contact your previous job?" and "Can you provide us with references from your previous employer?" What do you say and how do you get a good reference after you have been fired? Don't worry, it is not the end of the world. There are ways that you can handle these questions.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Some companies are willing to provide recommendation letters for those who they terminated. It doesn't hurt to ask for a recommendation letter from the company that fired you. All they can say is "no."

2. Unless you were a total pain to everyone in your previous job, there should be at least one person at your previous job who can give a character reference. Obtain the phone numbers to some of your coworkers and call them up and ask if they would be willing to write a recommendation letter and or if you could use their name as a reference.

3. Companies usually ask for 2 to 3 personal references and 5 business references. Make sure that when you have business references from your previous jobs, that the individuals you utilize were in managerial or supervisory roles and are willing to give good character references on your behalf. Once you get positive responses from people who say they are willing to give a reference for you, it's time to truly find out how good your references are.

4. Get a good friend to call the references on your behalf and act as if they are a company seeking to obtain references. The sample conversation should go as follows: "Hello, my name is Jane Doe and I'm calling from the XYZ company. You were listed as a reference for employment by [you name]. She or he has applied for a [job title] position at our organization. Do you have a few moments to answer a few questions related to [your name] character." Assuming the person says yes. The following questions should be asked: "How do you know [you name]? How long have you worked with [you name]? What are his strengths? What are his weaknesses? If you had an opportunity to hire him again, would you do so? Thank you for your time in answering these questions." Your friend should then report to you about what was said by the reference and you should make sure that what the reference says lines up with you tell the company you are seeking employment with.

5. If you absolutely do not have any references from the previous company in which you were terminated, then make sure you have a good explanation to provide as to why and how you were terminated and what you are doing to improve. Also make sure you have other suitable references from other previous companies that you worked for or business entities, such as your college professors, local organizations that you volunteered with, or community and religious leaders or a who can vouch for your character in a positive way.

6. Make sure your reference phone numbers and addresses are all up to date. Give them a call and heads up on what types of jobs you have applied for and names of companies that may be contacting them so they will know in advance.

Tips & Warnings

• When you don't have anyone to give you a good reference, take that as a sign that you need to improve in some areas. Find out what areas you need to improve in and work on it.
• Don't be afraid to admit your faults if and when you have determined how to correct the faults. This lets future employers know that you are willing to be honest and admit your mistakes and are responsible in seeking corrective actions, such as taking work ethics courses, or using your own money to take courses in interpersonal communication skills to improve your people skills.
• Never lie.
• Don't retaliate or get discouraged if people aren't willing to give you a good reference. It simply means you need to be honest during your interviews and state what methods you are using and have used to develop better working skills and habits.

[November05]

on 8/29/2008 theyed termed me. I have gone to having wonderful interviews at other institutions but once that employment verification is done, it seems so am I. Of course when I've contacted the South Carolina Bank and Trusts HR person she replied that all they give out is the length of my employment and my title. If this were the case though I would have had any number of job offers. Instead, after wonderful interviews I receive a letter stating that I'm not qualified when during those same interviews I am told I am more than qualified. Help! What can I do?

[November05]

on 8/29/2008 I don't know if you have any sage advice for this scenario but here goes. My primary back ground in in banking. I had been in the industry for 6 years. I made the mistake of switching over from a large bank to a smaller one believing the the grass would be greener. This was not the case and the year at that other bank was disastrous. Long story short I was terminated for what they called "unprofessionalism". I was chastised for being basically a human being. I would greet my well known customers with a hug and hold the hand of an elderly woman if she got upset. This was primarily the reason for my down fall. Now instead of resigning from this miserable institution and saved my great work history I went on faith that they would at least give me the option to resign b/c in my eyes I never considered my actions to be criminal or worthy of their write ups. Sadly this was not the case and th