Have you ever been in a position where a potential employer asked if they could contact your former employer, but you felt stuck because you really didn’t want them to? Well, here’s the secret: when a potential employer asks that question, they typically do not actually want to contact your previous employer; they simply want to see if you will say “yes” or “no,” showing whether or not you were being truthful about your prior work experience.
The problem sets in when you are not lying, yet you have a legitimate reason for needing to say “no.” Perhaps you had a really bad manager, or maybe all the people you worked with at that company do not currently work there anymore. In these types of situations, you really do need to say “no” on the off chance that the potential employer actually does decide to follow through and make the contact. Here are some tips from Hillsboro employment agencies for this circumstance:
- Utilize Online Testimonials
As already listed, there are legitimate reasons that you may need to say “no” to the question. In that case, you should make sure that you have several great online testimonials. The best place to have them is on your LinkedIn page. That is where you can build your professional reputation.
1st – Link to your former and current co-workers, vendors, managers, clients, and anyone else you have worked with.
2nd – Kindly ask them to write testimonials for you on LinkedIn.
3rd – Voluntarily write testimonials for them as well, which will entice them to happily fulfill your request.
These positive testimonials are a great way to prove that you are a valuable employee, as well as prove that you are truthful about the prior work experience that you claim.
- Realize that a Reference is Entirely Different
Keep in mind that when a potential employer asks for references, that is completely different than when they ask if they can contact your former employer. As said before, the main reason for asking the latter is to ensure that you are being truthful on your resume. References are typically desired with the intent of actually contacting them.
- Only Say “No” if You Absolutely Have to
Clearly, the best possible answer to this question is “yes.” Even though there are times when you need to say “no,” as well as tactics to offset the disadvantage of doing so, it is more ideal to say “yes.” If you can help it, you do not want your potential employer to suspect that you are lying or hiding something. Therefore, if you do not absolutely need to say “no,” it is always best to say “yes.” Remember, they probably will not actually follow through with making the contact!
Remember, use these tips from staffing solutions in Hillsboro to handle your interview, especially if an interviewer asks about a former employer.
Locally owned and operated, Express Employment Professionals in Hillsboro, OR is a full-service staffing agency that continually exceeds expectations by providing services to companies in our community while also helping job seekers find employment.
Express Employment Professionals of Hillsboro, OR
1001 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy #B34
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 640-3600
