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prospective employer asking past employer
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:16 PM Author: exciting keepsake machete how often do your prospective employer ask your past employer about your work performance, assuming you did not state that particular employer as reference on your resume?
I feel like I am fucked because I have an upcoming interview with a nice firm, but I am sure my old firm did not like me at all. I do have a couple of good references (head of a legal agency, professors ... etc) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:19 PM Author: Sapphire Coldplay Fan Azn There's really only one way to be sure. Have a friend call your old firm to pose as someone inquiring about your employment experience, or have a website like allison & taylor do it
I was afraid of this. I still think some of my supervisors or managers would talk smack about me, but there was one I simply wasn't sure about. Turns out he had pretty good things to say about me overall so im just going to use him as a reference. Might be more difficult if the legal community is more close knit than I think, but it's good for peace of mind |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:22 PM Author: exciting keepsake machete I was thinking that a firm would rather not talk smack about past employees because it reflects lowly on them - unless the employee violated the law ... etc.
but now I am really getting nervous. it was mainly office politics. some of my former colleagues did not like me. |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:22 PM Author: Appetizing Hospital have friend call. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332033) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 7:47 PM Author: Razzle trust fund organic girlfriend this might not be legal (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14335526) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:28 PM Author: Sapphire Coldplay Fan Azn Within certain industries, even though it's not legal, it happens all the time. Word gets around and so do rumors. If you're not sure about your supervisor or manager, list a friend you had at the workplace as a reference and let him know about it (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332079) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:24 PM Author: exciting keepsake machete thanks a lot, though, for the information.
in case the bad boss said bad things about me, should I just leave that part of my work history out
I think this would be disastrous? like lying? |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:28 PM Author: transparent deep set law firms rarely say ANYTHING other than confirming title and employment dates. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332081) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:29 PM Author: Sapphire Coldplay Fan Azn A lot of major corporations have the same policy. Many don't abide by it (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332096) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:31 PM Author: haunting bronze antidepressant drug gunner Law firms are a lot more careful in this area than corporations for obvious reasons. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332106) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:36 PM Author: transparent deep set this. firms usually don't even discuss "eligibility for rehire," which is legally fair game, at least in some states. just title and employment dates. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332154) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:34 PM Author: transparent deep set understood, but law firms are, as you might imagine, tremendously risk averse. I have friends who left firms on great terms and had trouble getting references because his supervisors followed policy. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332133) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:30 PM Author: haunting bronze antidepressant drug gunner Absolutely true. But you can always get personal references from individual attorneys within the firm. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332103) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:39 PM Author: transparent deep set yea, this is what I did after I got stealthed. so I get OP's apprehension. I do fear what the firm might say, but I figure they will follow policy and disclose nothing. I have multiple personal references from individual attorneys that will be excellent. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332181) |
Date: March 8th, 2010 1:29 PM Author: haunting bronze antidepressant drug gunner Here's the deal . . .
Law firms probably won't say anything other than to confirm your employment.
Partners and other attorneys you worked with within the firm can give personal references - but the firms shy away from this for fear of litigation.
Before you use a particular partner - make sure that they really will give you a good recommendation. If they won't or they seem equivocal then don't list them and refer them to the firm which will confirm that you were employed. |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:34 PM Author: exciting keepsake machete thank you all the good people here.
if this is true I should not really worry at all should I? as long as I dont use the as references.
I recall that jeannie suk (harvard prof) said it's actually not a good idea to use a former partner/ employer as reference unless you are 100% sure they will say good things about you. it's always better to ask your own professors. |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:35 PM Author: haunting bronze antidepressant drug gunner you should definitely be 100% on that they'll say good things.
General rule - if they offer to give you a recommendation, that's probably safe.
If you ask and they say sure, have you talked to "so and so" . . .that might not be so safe. |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:41 PM Author: exciting keepsake machete thanks!!!
but that would also mean that merely putting my employment history with a bad firm with bad people will not put me at risk, because if I do not get the new job it is not becuase my former employer said bad things about me, rite? |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:40 PM Author: irradiated salmon newt past employers are not going to say anything negative. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332192) |
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Date: March 8th, 2010 1:50 PM Author: flushed chapel puppy how are you getting interviews? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1244722&forum_id=2#14332273) |
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Date: March 9th, 2010 11:57 AM Author: exciting keepsake machete now I am slightly worried that the past employer will just ignore the inquiry about my past employment there. the prospective employer will think I am dishonest, although if they ask, I have all the proof (employment letter ... etc.)
I know I am neurotic. |