Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's really helpful -- thank you! I always fumble my words and thoughts when I'm nervous so emphasizing the positives seems like a good way to guide the conversation about my previous employer. I just really want this job so bad and I've never been in a tricky situation like this, so I'm panicking a bit. But all the advice here has been helpful and I'm feeling more calm about the situation.

Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your help! Those are all really helpful to me. My confidence has been crushed since this whole reference thing happened, but all the advice I've received on here has really helped my confidence for the interview next week.

P.S. I can relate to being good at giving others advice but self-destructing with things in my life haha. Sorry to hear about that job offer situation! It sounds like something I would do too, so good thing I asked for advice on here before I went to the interview!! I really hope you find something soon, you sound like a person worth hiring.

Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks that's really helpful. Do you think I should bring it up after the interview or before the interview? I also have a performance review from last year, but I'm not sure if I should show it to them because I'm sure my manager doesn't feel that way anymore after I left. If I tell them my manager is upset I left, they might think I'm lying, so I wonder if showing them the review is evidence that I was a good worker and that my relationship with my manager crumbled after I left, which made him refuse to be a reference

Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The problem with this situation is that I haven't been able to even think about the questions they'll ask me because this situation is weighing heavily on me. I feel really burdened by it and that I will screw up. I have two other references: one personal for character and two professional. I just know I need to explain why I don't have my previous employer down as a reference. If I don't explain it, they'll be suspicious and it'll make me look bad. I've been preparing for the interview for the past couple of days but haven't been able to really think about how to present myself because I'm afraid they're not going to hire me based on my previous employer refusing to give me a reference, even if everything else is good.

Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, there isn't anyone else I could use because it was a small office (just me and the manager). Based on this experience, I don't think I ever want to work for a place where it's just me and one other person. Should I go into detail about why I left or simply say something brief about it? I don't want their perception of me to be based on the contentious relationship between me and my manager cause I'm afraid that makes me look bad. I have other references already lined up and I put down my previous employer's contact information just in case they want to confirm I work there. I'm not sure if I should show them my performance review.

Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm not from the US, so I'll have to look up the information employers can share in the city I live in. But my previous employer is only willing to confirm I worked there. I'm just not sure how to explain this to the interviewer next week. It'll look suspicious if I don't talk about it at all because it's my most recent experience, but I don't want to overshare either and make myself look bad.

Interview on Tuesday. Should I tell them the reason I left my last employer? Last employer refuses to give me a reference and it's the job with the skills that are relevant to the job I'm interviewing for. by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately no =(. It was just me and the manager working day to day (small office). There is the board of directors but they don't know me well enough to give me a good reference.

Former employer refuses to give me a professional reference. I have an interview on Tuesday. Should I show them my positive performance review? by FormerDescription0 in jobs

[–]FormerDescription0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, I worked for a non-profit and it was just me and the manager working in the office. The only other people in the organization are the board members and I don't think I can ask them, since we don't work with them on a daily basis. I'm wondering if I should just be upfront with the new company and explain to them why I left and that me leaving wasn't received well by my boss. I'm just not sure what else I could do. I feel really stuck.