Employers Asking For References-What Questions Do They Ask An Ex Employer?

[Henrietta]

I'm asking for a friend who used to work for an agency as a secretary but was removed from site by the agency due to a misunderstanding where she asked her colleague to cover her shifts and the colleague misinterpreted her thinking she just meant one day just covering one instead of the whole week leaving the agency to find someone else to cover her as they couldn't get hold of her as she had changed her phone number.

So she wasn't sacked as the agency said she was removed from site but would try and get her some other work.

She's since left the agency but is worried at what they would tell anyone who asks for references what happened.

So what exactly do employers ask when getting references for someone and do you think they would tell her new employers the whole story?

[Prudie]

From my experience only the dates worked and basic job titles would be disclosed on a reference to a prospective employer. Sick, discipline, character etc are all excluded for fear of litigation - that's with a big government department but I should imagine most places are the same. A personal or character refereee however may wish to disclose far more - usually all complimentary.

[bednobs]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Jobs-and-Education/Question1359728.html

[atalanta]

The killer question which I have been asked is :
"If there were a suitable vacancy in your organisation, woud you employ this person again ?

[buildersmate]

Yup, that's the way HR professionals invariably do it, Atalanta.
We all gave up giving and asking for detailed references when the lawyers started spoiling things. More than one way to skin a cat.

[jno]

classic comment:" He left us as he joined us - fired with enthusiasm."

[harrylggy]

This is so disgusting and a bothering matter for me. I f I had no previous job, then how can i manage references. Who will give me the first chance to join in any jobs? i don't know the meaning of it.

[hc4361]

It's not what is in the written reference that counts - it's what is said in the phone call.

[boxtops]

Why is it disgusting, harry? People need to know who they are employing. If you have had no paid work, have you worked in a voluntary basis or something like that? - those sort of organisations can offer references, as well as employers - or tutors from college etc., anyone in that sort of position can provide a reference.

[chelle7272]

The requests i have received this year have asked for the following -not necessarily all these in each one though:
dates of employment
sickness absence
disciplinary action
suitability against job description provided
Would you re employ

[harrylggy]

Employers want to know your previous experiences and try to approve it for the welfare of their companies, not others.