Posted this on Chat but figured I would get more traffic here.
I am a bit upset. I applied for a new job, got invited for an interview, the new job contacted me and said “ We really liked you etc. But you have been unsuccessful—- I asked “Thanks blah blah, why have I been unsuccessful — they replied “You fitted our profile and you came across well in your interview, but we had a few concerns with one of your references, especially with reliability”.
To give a backstory. I joined a school, on a voluntary basis, this was part of getting onto a course which I needed experience in, before they can accept me onto the course.
Anyway, I joined this school, met with one of the managers, at the voluntary place, she agreed to take me on, though specifically requested I work for two days, but on specific days, Thursday and Monday. I told her, the other day would be fine, but Thursday would be really difficult as that’s the day that I agreed for my course interviews to take place, but school meetings so forth, as Thursday is the only free day I have. I also worked part time elsewhere. The manager seemed to have understood and said “If you have any interviews and other things taking place on Thursdays, that would be fine, we’ll see you when you can make Thursdays.
Fast forward now, I’ve been getting a couple of interviews from the courses I applied to, which of course took place on Thursdays. Warned the school prior about it etc. I also felt a weird vibe around the manager. For example, she would sulk if I was seen chatting to one of her best friend, who is also a colleague. She would snap at me if I do something wrong, she always had a mood around me. Plus, looked very shocked when I told her best friend, as both me and her have applied to the same course, “That I got into the course”. Anyway, I didn’t let it all that bother me.
Just last week, I received an email from that same manager telling me “That they were letting me go as they’ve got a high amount of volunteers and they would like to give everyone a chance to volunteer as they don’t want too many people working in the school, thought happy to give a reference etc”.
Fair enough. However, I was a bit shocked as it was out of the blue and no way did the manager tell me that the placement would only be for a certain of months. I sensed bullshit and emailed back to the manager... something over the lines of “I assume I’m being let go because of missing my Thursdays placement... though I did warn you that such and such were conducting on these days, plus if you (she) had any concerns I would of appreciated if you spoke to me about it. We could of discussed alternative days etc”.
The manager emailed back and said that basically I got the wrong end of the stick.
Back to my original OP. I am a bit upset. My current part time job gave me a good reference, I have been working there for years, but really upset the reference, coming from the manager at the school, cost me this job.
Should I just let it go? I really want to request to see the reference, that the manager at the school wrote about me. I did ask the job I applied to, if I could see the reference. However, they told me that “they shred every unsuccessful references”.
hmm
Apart of me just wants to let this go and move on.