I'm currently job hunting and am at the stage where references are being requested. I have give the recruitment agency the names and numbers of my previous two employers. I phoned both as a courtesy to let them know I had given their names, which is just as well as one is refusing to give me a reference. The one and only reason being that I didn't return a call to him 6 months after I had left. I was with this guy for quite a few years and a lot of my relevant work experiance was gained with him, so naturally enough prospective employers want to speak with him.
I was always accomodating with regards to overtime, travel etc when I worked there. I even rearranged appointments in the week before my wedding to accomodate him. In the weeks after I left I went back in the evenings to tie up some loose ends. I told him that he was free to contact me but to do so outside working hours. He and other staff contacted me quite a few times after I left with various queries which I always did my best to answer. Then it got to the stage that they were phoning me with every little query during working hours. I felt that after 6 months it was time to draw a line in the sand, so I didn't return the next call and I haven't heard from them since.
My immediate boss took it quite personally when I left and even tried to talk me into staying. Now he's saying the only thing he will confirm is that I worked there from X to Y dates..and ha ha how he knew the day would come when I'd be looking for a reference. There is no-one else in the company, who's name I could give as they are all afraid of him.
I have contacted the agency and explained the situation and they have taken the number of another previous employer instead.
Any advise on how to handle the issue in the future? We all know you don't bad mouth previous employers but how do I address the issue if prospective employers query why I am not giving this person as a referee?
I was always accomodating with regards to overtime, travel etc when I worked there. I even rearranged appointments in the week before my wedding to accomodate him. In the weeks after I left I went back in the evenings to tie up some loose ends. I told him that he was free to contact me but to do so outside working hours. He and other staff contacted me quite a few times after I left with various queries which I always did my best to answer. Then it got to the stage that they were phoning me with every little query during working hours. I felt that after 6 months it was time to draw a line in the sand, so I didn't return the next call and I haven't heard from them since.
My immediate boss took it quite personally when I left and even tried to talk me into staying. Now he's saying the only thing he will confirm is that I worked there from X to Y dates..and ha ha how he knew the day would come when I'd be looking for a reference. There is no-one else in the company, who's name I could give as they are all afraid of him.
I have contacted the agency and explained the situation and they have taken the number of another previous employer instead.
Any advise on how to handle the issue in the future? We all know you don't bad mouth previous employers but how do I address the issue if prospective employers query why I am not giving this person as a referee?