Poorly written reference

[Marc]

My contract ends on Monday and I'll be out of a job. Today I've been given my reference, which is full of spelling mistakes and poor grammar. It was written by the admin bloke, and everyone (we were all on 6 month contracts) has been given the exact same reference, but with names changed.

I know a few people on here are self-employed, my question is: is a poorly written reference going to affect my chances if I submit it with a job application? The English really is terrible - such as referring to me as 'this employer', saying 'if in doubt or need any other quires', etc. It's already hard enough to find a job, I don't want this to make it more difficult.

Marc.

 

[Theorysparky]

I would take it back thanking them for the reference but requesting they could could recheck the spelling and grammer.

With the point being made that this would be presented with any future job application and would not look great when it has the company name on it.

may not be the best way of going about it but hopefully give you some ideas on how to approach the problem

 

[Marc]

I would take it back thanking them for the reference but requesting they could could recheck the spelling and grammer.With the point being made that this would be presented with any future job application and would not look great when it has the company name on it.

may not be the best way of going about it but hopefully give you some ideas on how to approach the problem

That was the plan but I don't like falling out with people. It's tantamount to insulting the man's intelligence, but if it's going to potentially reflect badly on me ('Why is he submitting such a terrible reference?' etc) then it'll have to happen.

Thanks. Guinness

 

[Theorysparky]

That was the plan but I don't like falling out with people. It's tantamount to insulting the man's intelligence, but if it's going to potentially reflect badly on me ('Why is he submitting such a terrible reference?' etc) then it'll have to happen.Thanks. Guinness

Ok then take it to someone else and explain things,,,,you must have had a good working relationship with a supervisor/manager ?

is there an HR person ?

 

[Marc]

Ok then take it to someone else and explain things,,,,you must have had a good working relationship with a supervisor/manager ?is there an HR person ?

I had a good working relationship with my supervisor, but he left a month or 2 ago. My boss isn't keen on me (or 6 or 7 others for that matter), because we walked out having been locked in a portacabin for over an hour. There is no HR person.

In all honesty I'm contemplating getting in touch with my supervisor for a reference; he knew me better than anyone and 99% of the time I did his job while he was off helping the admin bloke. I would have had his job when he left if it wasn't for the fact that somebody else kissed the boss's backside.

 

[Theorysparky]

I had a good working relationship with my supervisor, but he left a month or 2 ago. My boss isn't keen on me (or 6 or 7 others for that matter), because we walked out having been locked in a portacabin for over an hour. There is no HR person.In all honesty I'm contemplating getting in touch with my supervisor for a reference; he knew me better than anyone and 99% of the time I did his job while he was off helping the admin bloke. I would have had his job when he left if it wasn't for the fact that somebody else kissed the boss's backside.

thats the way i would go then.......

even though you didnt get on too well with your manager i would still approach him regarding the poorly written reference because at the end of the day you might need him in the future and he needs to know what other companies would think receiving a crap reference like that with his company name on it !

 

[NozSpark]

Why not type out the reference that you would like and see if he wouldn't mind signing it..(give him 2 copies, one for you and the other for file)

you could justify it by saying "thank you for the reference, but I was hoping for something a bit more detailed to help me with my job search"

 

[Marc]

thats the way i would go then.......even though you didnt get on too well with your manager i would still approach him regarding the poorly written reference because at the end of the day you might need him in the future and he needs to know what other companies would think receiving a crap reference like that with his company name on it !

I'll have to have a chat with him on Monday then. I'm not sure if he's seen the quality of English (although he did sign it), so hopefully he'll sort it out.

Thanks for the advice Theory.

Marc.

 

[Marc]

Why not type out the reference that you would like and see if he wouldn't mind signing it..(give him 2 copies, one for you and the other for file)you could justify it by saying "thank you for the reference, but I was hoping for something a bit more detailed to help me with my job search"

I'd contemplated that as well. I don't want to sound bigheaded but I did a lot more than 90% of those who work there (they've freely admitted that and weren't happy when someone else was given the supervisor's job), yet I've been given the same (c**p) reference, which is so generic it's unbelievable. It makes very little reference to actual abilities.

Thanks Noz.

 

[Evans Electric]

I would certainly be put off by a reference like that , it gives the idea that you couldn't be bovvered 2 doo the spelink and the grama corectlee.

You could type it out correctly ,staple it to the original and explain to would-be employer that you were ashamed of it.

 

[NozSpark]

If you type it out then (so long as it's true) your soon to be ex employer won't have to put much effort into signing it, where as if you ask them to redo it then what's in it for them??

Remember references are more about you as a person, CV's have much more detail.

My old employer (MOD) would only give out references along the lines of a check list..like

Date of start of employment..

Date of termination of employment..

Role within business during employment..

Reason for termination of employment..

for more detailed references I would have had to contact my supervisor for a full written personal reference

Not that I ever saw or needed one.. I went straight from employement to self employed!

 

[Marc]

I would certainly be put off by a reference like that , it gives the idea that you couldn't be bovvered 2 doo the spelink and the grama corectlee. You could type it out correctly ,staple it to the original and explain to would-be employer that you were ashamed of it.

Certainly something to be ashamed of. The only details that have been blanked out are names & numbers.

 

[Evans Electric]

OK When can you start ?

Yes, its full of gramatical mistakes , I make it ten , with the change in tense, comma etc.... "wish them..." instead of wish him... " ...not in able...." " ..due to business 6 months temporary contracts.." "...(.During) Marc's time..." ..." he has tried well..."..." Dear employer".... should be, To whom it may concern and " employee " not Employer.

I would have been caned at school for producing that TBH.

However its still a good reference , best to explain the mistakes so that they don't think you made it up.

 

[Evans Electric]

Oh and good luck with finding a new job .

 

[NozSpark]

^+1 (on both counts)

 

[Apache]

I would never submit a reference with an application unless specifically asked for one. It would be usual to supply the names of two or three people who you had worked for/with [often people want character references] and an informal telephone chat is held. You will find out much more that way than what is ever written on paper. My CV states 'references available on request' and I have never been asked for them!

Submitting what you have there would not hep you get a job!

 

[Marc]

I would never submit a reference with an application unless specifically asked for one. It would be usual to supply the names of two or three people who you had worked for/with [often people want character references] and an informal telephone chat is held. You will find out much more that way than what is ever written on paper. My CV states 'references available on request' and I have never been asked for them!Submitting what you have there would not hep you get a job!

Thanks. I send a lot of speculative letters out, and some of the bigger companies say "send us a CV and we'll keep it on file", my plan was to send this reference along to those bigger companies to at least try & stand out. I've only once been asked for references, but at least it's there in written form if someone decides they want it.

Thanks everyone for the advice & well wishes.

Marc.