Hi, I just recently resigned from a medium size audit firm, due to some dissatisfaction with my head of department. Actually was unhappy since day one on the job but after 3 months, the situation didn't change for the better so I decided to leave to for the better good. The problem is, the head of department has a bad record in the company itself for his inability to hold staff very long (his staff never lasted more than 3 months ever since he joined 1 year ago).

Anyway my resignation has caught the attention of the senior partner of the firm, and by the looks of it, trying to imply some action will be taken on the head of department. However, before I left the company, the head of department told me "As long you're still in the company, you will be taken care of, but once you leave, it's a different story out there". Those words really make me feel worried.

Anyway that was my first job, and i'm applying for new jobs around now. Trouble is, most resume will require the referer(usually two), and since I have written my 3 months experience, it's only natural for me to put my ex-superior as one of the referer. But I'm worried that if my potential employer call my superior he might say nasty things about me.

What should I do? Put my superior as my referer or not?

This post has been edited by Kaerna: Oct 25 2009, 09:49 PM

Better not to put that.

I've been working over 10 years in 2 Big4s and then MNCs,.. I have never put down any references. When employers ask why I don't have any references, I usually say "My record speaks for itself. But do feel free to call my previous employers to enquire how many times they promoted me during my time there."

If I were you, I wouldn't put your previous boss as reference... in fact, I'd leave the 3 months off the resume entirely... unless you have a very neutral story to tell about why you're leaving.

I wouldnt put him as a reference. There must be someone else u can put..like a different colleague at work or another superior that u got along with. Use them instead of someone u didnt get along with..especially if u know they might not say nice things about u.

But i dont agree that u should leave the 3 months out of resume. Because its your first job, even 3 months shows u have at least done some work in a field that is related to a new job that u apply for. 3 months is still better than a fresh grad with 0 experience. BUT you must know how to leverage on that by giving lots of details about the things u have learnt in 3 months that makes u different from a fresh grad. Also make sure u have a damn good and reasonable reason for leaving, because u will definitely be asked why in every interview. If youre going to be honest and say its because u didnt get along with your boss, then be prepared to explain in great detail. If u think its too hard to explain and will look bad on u, then leave it out.

then u shudnt put him/her as referee lor.

My opinion is you should leave out the 3 months entirely from your resume. Sometimes potential employers just look at this and will directly put your resume under KIV.

But you should be honest during an interview, share with them why you only worked for 3 months and resigned. If you perform well in other parts of interview, this resignation should not have big impact to your overall chances to get the job.

You'd kill yourself right there if you put your previous superior as a reference contact. He/She already given you the hint and you still want to go head on? Holy cheese cake~~~

Is there anyone higher in the hierarchy that can back you up when potential employer wants to contact to inquire your previous employment?

Sometimes it pays to get to know more people in the higher chain of command. I had my share of experience with my colleague whom he is the Operations Manager. I quote his words, "Aiya, no need to worry. Take my business card and put as reference contact...small matter only." Then we had coffee at the cafeteria during tea break.

Regards, Joey

p.s: Guanxi is very important in today's working environment.

This post has been edited by Joey Christensen: Oct 26 2009, 09:32 AM

Its best not to create conflicts, but having done that, don't let such "enemies" affect your future chances of employment.

Conflicts are unavoidable, and to try is foolish. I've had tons of conflicts, many of which are resolved making the team a tighter bunch. Caveat, everyone has to be on the same page, if there are some vested personal conflicts of interest (i,e. politically) it can become a tacky situation.

I hate office politics. That's why I avoid working in companies with a lot of politics.

Just put your company general line as reference.

You've only worked 3 months, it's fine if you don't name your boss as the reference. Knowing his personality, nothing good will come out of it so why try?

Dark NT has a point. It's only 3 months so you might want to consider taking it out from your resume. If you feel the comp should be in your resume, be prepared to be asked on why you left after only 3 months.

3 months... Sure the new Co. will criticize why you leave so soon. But anyway if you can reasonably justify the reason of leaving.
eg. too stress in that Co., long working hours, not the type of job you expect & etc...

Normally they won't call the Referee unless you can't show ur confident of previous working experience. Or they sense problem in your credibility & integrity.

Don't put him down and don't say " feel free .... " .

After your new emyer really feels free and calls your old boss then you know die.

no thats dumb just leave it blank

Kaerna,

1. How well do you know the senior partner of the firm? Do you know him/her well enough to be your referee? Or can you contact the senior partner and request for permission to put his/her contact as referee? If you can do this, this will mitigate whatever bad things your HOD may say to you.

2. You may also want to consider being honest to your prospective future employer. Tell them about the threats, and that you did not do anything to deserve such treatment. Your HOD's words will have less effect if your prospective employer already heard it first from you.

3. If there is someone else supervising you i.e. lower rank than the HOD but higher than you, put the person as a referee instead.

4. Whatever you do, there is no need to put your HOD as a referee. However, if you are applying to a company where the HR places a very stringent screening process, it doesn't matter whether you put the HOD's name or not because they will call your ex-company anyway and try to find out your HOD and speak to him. This is called unsolicited reference and I do it all the time. That's how we find out "juicy" stories sometimes, and reveal the true character of the applicant.

I always advocate being honest i.e. my point No. 2 above. However, since your employment was only 3 months, leaving the entire working experience out can be an option, with a big RISK. There is a chance that it may haunt you in the future as it may be a "false declaration" - you don't want this to happen when you are 7 years down the road and having a sterling career. You may meet someone from the ex-company who spills the bean on your employer at that time. Careers can go down the hill just like that, what more when you are in the auditing line with low tolerance for any dishonest act.

Remember whatever you do now may impact your future. But most of all, act according to your conscience. If you have nothing to hide, you don't have to worry and do not let a "jerk" like your ex-HOD put you down.

Thanks for the reply. However I'm still undecided on certain areas, as there are other problem arising, such as :

1) To leave out 3 months of my employment out - The reason why I'm worried to leave this out is as pointed out by hrguy, I feel like it will be a little dishonest if I left out that 3 months employment since most employer will want your past working experience (and I already have an EPF account registered).

2) Putting other references - The trouble is, I report directly to the HOD. Although 2 partners has allowed me to put their name as their reference, they do not directly supervised my work, so in a way, they do not know much about me either.

3) Just a further story on why I left. Basically I applied for External Audit department of the company, but due to lack of staff in their Internal Audit department, they ask me if I'm interested. I thought I'd give it a go. However on my first month I already encountered some issues such as requiring to come to work on weekends without overtime. This happens every month till finally he asked me work on Deepavali and yet I didn't get any overtime or extra hours. Moreover, the HOD seems very inexperienced and sometimes ask for the impossible (in case you're all accusing me of being a whinner, here's an example, I was required to prepare an entire audit programme for Hotel business in one week. It's not that I didn't try, but it's impossible for me since I have no experience in the hotel industry)

The reason why my resignation brought attention of the senior partners is because the Internal Audit dept only consist of 4 staf (3 regular staff, all fresh grad with less than 3 months experience) and my HOD. My resignation coincide with the other 2 regular staff who also resigned for the same reason. Basically our resignation effectively wiped out the entire Internal Audit department. This is the 3rd time where such thing has happened under that HOD.

So this is my reason. I tried for something new initially and probably it wasn't my thing or I was not guided properly.



After considerating the above, I guess I should put my HOD and both of my Senior Partners as reference. What do you guys think?

Constructive advicse are welcomed please, and thanks to those that helped earlier

i sometime put my lecturer as reference or dont put at all.

the manager who interview me ask why leave blank space..

i said "if i put my current boss, and u call him, he will know i intend to leave, do you think he will help me talk good things? human are creature of jealousy, there is no way he will compliment me even with my good achievements" something like that la i forgotten the exact words used.

then the manager understood and proceed the interview.

This post has been edited by chezzball: Oct 27 2009, 01:56 AM

I am not a doctor and yet I've asked one to be my reference contact. Sometimes it is good to have someone with credential as a source of reference. Thinking straight is one thing but it doesn't necessary would be the best method to be used.

Regards, Joey

did you get the job TS?

it is better to leave out the 3 months employment..

but for me, i told my interviewer that i am working and need to apply leave 1 week b4 for the interview.
so, i have to put my two months employment in. if not, i would leave it out unless the company will do background check.


for reference, it is better not to put someone that is unhappy and will say bad things about.

you don't really have to put your former superior and you don't have to put 3. put 2 also is fine.

for me, i put my lecturer and pastor as my reference. It is good to put someone who know you well and think or say good about you.

I would never put the person who i have problem with as a reference , i would get someone else . However i am sure your prospective employer will question you about the 3 months there and why u left after 3 months . I know some frens who had the same problem as you and left the short employment term out of their resume just avoid question from the person interviewing them . I think u should just leave it out and move with a new job . Good luck .

put your lecturers name (but ask their permission first)

I tired to maintain a good relationship with my former manager, so can put her as my reference. Of course don't put someone that u not getting along properly right? Suicide meh.

better not

true also la. I put my colleagues.

Hehehe , i have done that also . My supervisor was not a nice guy and i knew he will ruin my chances of getting a new job . So listed my buddy as a reference . I got the job .

I think it will backfired, if the name is placed down. Usually your boss won't like us leaving in the first place. Because they have to find your replacement. Unless you are retrenched maybe refrences might do you good. But being fired or you quit. some bosses might bear grudges.
Im no too sure ..i use my lecturer for ref when i started work. Now, no more refs..

references are , for reference. ur boss may not love u, but a lot of hiring comps require the reference to prove u work there b4.

whether the reference give bad feedback or not, up to the hirer to intepret.

but of course u will nvr know, u may leave a job in good terms but later the former employer still stab u in d back.

Without putting the HR person as a reference can't we tell future employers to call the HR person in charge to verify this?

yes you could put the HR as reference too, if u dont wish to put ur superior.
but usually reference means "former supervisor"

for low-mid end jobs a lot mnc will want ref. checks, and some even background checks to ensure the person is credible (from a 3rd party view).

My opinion is to leave out ur HOD as reference. Try to put ur lecturer or if u have, put ur internship superior instead, whom u think can help u in getting the job.

Regarding the 3 months experience, my advise is to put it in ur resume. I'm changing my job too after 5 m0nths of working in the current co due to the positiom offerred is n0t what i wanted at the 1st place. Alm0st all the interviewer asked for the leaving reason,but as long as u can provide sufficient, yet strong reasons, they hv no problems with this issue.

Peace out!

yah lor, the one I applied is MNC. In the last minute then only he asked for ref. check. So close man. Until today not yet call.