Job offer may be withdrawn because I can't get a work related reference

[MrsMorgan]

I will try to be as brief as I can.

Basically, I was offered a job about a month ago working within the NHS. At interview and on my application it was made quite clear that I haven't worked for the past 5 years.

I put down one character reference and a reference from someone at the last place I worked.

Now, I know the work ref person personally and so when I was offered the job, I told them they'd be getting a request for a ref and they said they'd been told that they were no longer allowed to do references and that they had to be sent to head office. I was completely sure that they were telling the truth, but just left it at that.

The HR dept of the hospital have just rung to say that they have had the ref from head office of where I worked and that it is no good as it isn't detailed enough, as all it does is state how long I worked there and thats it.

They wanted to know why the person I stated hadn't done the ref and I told them. They said could I try and get in touch with them and ask if they will just write a few lines stating that I worked with then and was a good worker etc.

Trouble is I am not sure if they will do this. If they don't, then I have absolutly no one else I can ask and the job offer gets withdrawn.

Just to update. Have asked the person if they will do the ref and they said they are going to speak to their boss about it.

Not totally happy with that because if the boss says no, then presumably I won't get my ref.

It is utter madness, and if the job gets withdraw because of this, then how exactly do I get another one with no ref ?

Could the recruiter ask your friend's boss to write the reference?

MrsM - I had nightmares getting 2 personal references for NHS job after 5 years out of workplace. I could only get one from my old work - they eventually let someone I babysat for do the second one.

The NHS is the most ridiculous organisation I have come across.

Fingers crossed your friend will do it. Is there anyone else from that time you could ask?

Friends boss doesn't know me though. My friend is the only person I know that worked there when I did, so they want it from him.

I've not even babysat for anyone, so can't even do that.

No, what I meant is for the recruiter to call up your friend's boss and explain what is needed; that your friend is one of the only people who could comment on your work performance, and that it wouldn't be from the view of his current position, but from his previous position.

It could be that he is nervous about making a statement as he has been told that all references need to go through H/R.

Yes, and then the recruiter could then send an email to this person's non-work account confirming the details of the conversation. In this way their ass would be covered re. documentation.

Hmm thats a good idea, but I am suddenly getting the feeling that this 'friend' doesn't actually want to do the ref at all.

Twice now he has said he was going to ask his boss and get back to me, but he hasn't been in touch since, despite being online, and having my mobile number.

I am tempted to just pass his number onto HR, but I think if they call him, he will just say he has been told he can't do it.

If they call him direct he'll probably say enough of what they need to hear even if he formally refers them to HO. Basically that he knew you in a work capacity and that you were reliable. tbh a HO reference is really all they can expect after so long anyway. Have you asked your Job Centre advisor for advice ?

Hoping to speak to my LPA tomorrow, he has been on holiday, but I think returns to work tomorrow.

After asking around, it seems it is now the norm to only give a ref from HO, but if that is the case then surely employers should accept this.

Right, I have now txt him and asked if he can please let me know what is going on wrt the ref.

I'll be surprised if I get a reply.

Ok, still non the wiser here. Ref person is now pretty much ignoring me. Can't decide if I am hurt, angry or what. They know how hard i'd been trying to find a job and knew how pleased I was about getting this one.

LPA wasn't in today but should be tomorrow, so will be ringing him first thing.

Have started to look for other jobs incase this does fall through, although I think I am always going to face this problem now.

I spoke to someone today that works in HR (different company), and she said both parties are in the right BUT that the person I originally put down as a ref should be allowed to wrote a personal reference, and thats what they reccomend to their employees.
I think my ref just doesn't want to do it though.

Is your friend just being incredibly wet and by the book? It seems ridiculous. Can you use a teacher or lecturer from school in addition to the ho ref?

I'd pass on his direct number. It isn't up to you to keep chasing. Did you ask him when you put his name down ?

Didn't you work at b&q for a while and then in the ward that your mum works in?
Can one of those provide a ref?
Can't believe your going through this

No didn't work in b&q, and can't use the last hospital job because I left after 2 shifts because of them changing the hours, so I haven't even put that down as a previous job

Friend did definitely agree to be a ref yes. He did my old ref for the other hospital job and that was fine, but that was before they changed the rules.

He isn't exactly a friend. I worked with him then, and we got on really well. Fast forward a couple of years and i needed a ref and my old assistant manager wouldn't give me one because she couldn't remember me. She suggested I contact him as he'd been promoted. I did, and he was happy to be a ref and then I have stayed in touch with him and always asked him if it was ok to use him as a ref before i ever put him down on any forms and he has always said yes.

There is one thing that slightly complicates it though, in that we were more than friends a couple of times a few months ago , but I fail to see why that would stop him giving me a ref. He has agreed to do refs for me since that happened.

Oh and I can't use a teacher, I left school in 94 lol.

I have txt him again tonight but i'm not expecting a reply. So next move is to contact their head office myself i think and see if i can get any joy there.

Thank's for all of the help on here. I feel so stressed at the moment. I have been running around like a headless chicken trying to sort childcare for this job, because xp is no longer having the dc at all, and now this.

UPDATE : he finally txt me last night and said they have said he can do it as a persnal ref as long as he doesn't inluded any info like sickness record etc.

I think that should be fine, so I am going to ring HR later and let them know

good news

Yes, I am so relieved. Have just rung them and they said it should be fine now, and that once my crb gets back to them, they will send out the next lot of stuff and organise a start date

Phew!
maybe it was Wilkos you worked at?
Why is xp not having kids at all?