References harming your job prospects

[theluckygal]

Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident

I've generally found that if someone is willing to take the time to write a LOR/reference for you, they generally have good things to say. Either this, or you were so terrible working for/with them that they will take the time out to write about that. But I've seen that most people, myself included, don't get any pleasure about writing about the pitfalls of mediocre employees. In my personal practice, I won't write references for people who ask if I have nothing but bad experiences with them; I'll make something up like I don't quite have time to do so by the deadline, etc.

These are not written references. Just their contact numbers & email id on the job application so that the employer can contact them to discuss the candidate.

[MSchemist80]

Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident

I've generally found that if someone is willing to take the time to write a LOR/reference for you, they generally have good things to say. Either this, or you were so terrible working for/with them that they will take the time out to write about that. But I've seen that most people, myself included, don't get any pleasure about writing about the pitfalls of mediocre employees. In my personal practice, I won't write references for people who ask if I have nothing but bad experiences with them; I'll make something up like I don't quite have time to do so by the deadline, etc.

That is how decent people behave though written references are not common nowadays. Phone conversations are more typical in reference checks. There are a significant number of sociopaths out there who like using reference checks as an outlet to exercise their natural tendencies to hurt and sabotage others for their own enjoyment.

I gave the example of the PI who loved slandering his former students. It is also common in academia for PI's to use references as leverage to force their subordinates to do something. Bully/sociopath bosses are also still quite common in the private sector.

[palomalillie]

Originally Posted by MPowering1

In most cases, people who can only give a bad reference will only confirm title, dates of employment and salary or range of salary. Everyone is afraid of being sued, so they don't typically give out more than that if they only have bad things to say.

This isn't true. Many employers won't give a bad OR a good reference. They will only confirm the dates that someone worked for them, and that's it. They won't promote a person, or say anything negative about them either.