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In my
current job I am very unhappy. I was hired as technical support team leader for a major
internet company. Through various operational changes my position is not available to the
advancement that I was assured of when I came to the company. The first six months of my
employ I could do no wrong. My boss was very satisfied and indicated that to me and
others. When these operational changes began my department slowly lost much of it's
technical responsibilities. I now find myself, a computer engineer, in the position of
customer service representative. I am not trained, interested or experienced in this field
and my performance shows it I'm sure. I will get a negative reference from my supervisor
when other employers call for a reference. I have very good references from all other
employers. I am now seeking new employment while still at this company. My boss is now in
the job of his dreams (Customer Service Director) but he has dragged me with him. What to
do???
Signed,
Stranger in a Strange Department
Dear
Stranger:
Your receiving a good recommendation depends on your relationship with your boss. You should speak with him about this as soon as possible. The trick here is not to ask him to lie or just give you a glowing recommendation but to give you a fair (as in fair play) recommendation. Explain to your boss that you have enjoyed working for him but your position has moved you out of your area of training and specialty and you feel out of place. Tell him you are seeking other employment in technical support and ask him to give a recommendation based upon what he knows of your technical skills and your ability to work well with others.
You could say to your boss (in your own words of course):
"We both know I am not the best customer service rep. in town (say it modestly with a smile, this should break the ice). I have enjoyed working with you and the company but I'm just not as good at customer service as you and the others in our department are. Although I would like to remain with the company, I feel that I need to get back to doing what I do best, technical troubleshooting. I wanted to be honest with you and tell you that I am in the process of looking for a job elsewhere. I wish there was a more technical position open here, but right now it seems as though there isn't. I have applied for a couple of jobs as a technical support person, and I wanted to ask you to serve as a reference. I know my time in customer service hasn't been stellar but perhaps you could give me a reference based on my technical skills and general work habits."
It is also a good idea to be honest with any potential employers. Tell them you are leaving your current job and explain it much as you did in your question above. New employers expect to receive similar glowing references for all candidates and you never want to ask anyone to lie for you. Following your conversation, could your boss not comment on your honesty and your performance as it relates to the position you are applying for? A recommendation like that might not sound as generic and will show that you are a "real" person.
All this of course assumes that your boss likes you and you have a friendly relationship with him. On the flip side, if he hates you he might want you to get that new job so you aren't around him anymore.
Recent court cases have held employers liable for not telling the truth when giving someone a reference. That has only been in cases where a person is a clear danger to others (such as the school principal who was fired repeatedly for sexual misconduct but got glowing recommendations from the schools, was hired again, and subsequently molested another student). Unless your boss really has an ax to grind, he should be receptive to giving you the recommendation you need.
Good luck in your job hunt.
WEGO knows the best thing you can communicate is honesty.
--Dan West