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Possible slander by previous employer

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Aileen_Asphodel

Guest
I am in Pennsylvania.

I have reason to believe that a previous employer may be disclosing false negative information about me to potential employers. I intend to have a neutral party call to request information from them in order to discover what may be being said.

I want to be thorough, so please forgive me if this seems a trifle verbose.

Here is why I believe this is going on. I feel it is important to say that I am nineteen years old, and have worked only three, minimum wage, simple jobs in my lifetime, none lasting more than three or four months. Two were seasonal positions, and one was simply a very bad choice, which I amicably terminated as soon as I could. In other words, I would have held longer positions had they been possible; I haven't switched jobs out of boredom or lack of desire to work.

The employer I believe may be slandering me is my most recent employer. I always did very good work for them, and was praised on several occasions by employers and customers alike, but quit early due to extremely poor communications with my immediate supervisor (she was scheduling me for such short shifts that I actually could not afford the transportation to work, but weeks of requests from me and promises from her changed nothing). I left a letter of resignation containing specific points as to why I was quitting, why I felt this method was best, and was polite and thorough.

I have applied for over forty jobs since that time, in the past eighteen months, most jobs for which I am quite qualified, but have gotten few interviews. When I am interviewed for a position, it usually goes well. The potential employer seems to enjoy my attitude, personality, and manner, and seems eager to hire me. I am usually promised a phone call in the event that I am hired, or if I am not hired, that I might not be left without knowing. I have not once recieved this phone call. When I do call in order to find out my circumstances, the potential employers are often short with me, even showing what I believe, and what I feel most people would believe, to be a disgusted, angry, or offended manner toward me, as opposed to a polite refusal. This is very different from the cheerful, polite, welcoming manner they show during the interview, or prior to this point. None will disclose any information as to why I was not hired despite being politely asked to do so.

If there is nothing I can legally do, but, regardless, the employer is expressing personal opinions or insinuations that are unfairly detrimental to the opinions of potential employers towards me, is there any other course of action for me? Can I simply not list this employer on my application form? Is there some way I can discuss the problem with a potential employer without seeming as though I were whining or attempting to evade actual accusations of real crimes? Checking the "don't contact this employer" box on some applications might prevent them from calling, but it doesn't take a genius to know how that will look to a potential employer.

Thank you for your time, and for any information you can give me.
 


cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
With regards to interviews that you are not getting, the chances that these have anything to do with your previous employers are slim to none.

The reason I say that is that employers do NOT check references before deciding whom to interview. It is not until after t hey have chosen whom to interview, interviewed them all and decided who their top candidates are that they do anything about calling previous employers. I GUARANTEE you that no one is calling your previous employer before deciding whether to interview you or not.

As far as interviews you do get, you were not the only one they interviewed. They most likely interviewed a half dozen to a dozen other people besides you. All but one of these are NOT going to get the job.

The fact of the matter is that for every opening these days, there are anywhere between one and three HUNDRED applicants. Recruiters, headhunters and HR managers (particularly HR managers, who have a great many other duties totally unrelated to hiring) are likely to be brusque on the phone when someone is calling to ask about their status; they've probably taken fifty other calls of the same sort that week, if not that day. It's nothing personal.

Few if any employers will answer questions about why any particular applicant were not chosen, regardless of how politely they are asked. The fact that the managers you speak to will not respond does not in ANY WAY imply that they received negative information about you.

Too many people are failing to take into account that there are FAR more applicants for jobs than there are jobs available. They automatically assume that someone MUST be saying something negative about them. It can't POSSIBLY be that someone else was equally or more qualified than they; it's GOT to be because of negative references. Sorry, but that's just not the case.

Speaking as someone who has been hiring, checking references, and giving references for longer than you've been alive, there is nothing in your post that indicates that anything but a poor economy (and a slight entitlement attitude) is behind your failure to become employed.
 
A

Aileen_Asphodel

Guest
One hour ago today, my mother's friend, a legal secretary, phoned my previous employer and asked for information. The information she recieved was, indeed, false, and would be legally considered slander by most people-- I was accused of theft, which is untrue, as well as consistant lateness, also untrue.

Considering that my caller is a legal secretary, and therefore, is employed by a lawyer, we've already arranged for a chat and something should be underway soon enough.

I searched your post for any advice on how I should react to this slander, and what I might do in this case. Unfortunately, it seemed lacking in this area, but nonetheless, I appreciate the fact that you responded so quickly, gave me plenty of information already apparent to me, and were not only sympathetic and helpful, but managed to give me a free personality analysis almost as accurate and logical as one I might find in Cosmopolitan.

Sorry, but it was the case. The slight pretentious and judgemental attitude was much appreciated as well. Good night, and don't feel obligated to give me anymore 'helpful' advice-- I'll ask someone with more insight and less spite.

In address to anyone else reading this post: as I've stated, I've found legal aid already, and no more advice is needed, and I won't be returning here, so please save your time. Administrators can feel free to delete this post if so desired.
 

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