FAQs
Is this only for people with a bad employment history?
1
No. This service is not only for people who have had a difficult workplace experience or a poor relationship with a former manager.
Reference checks often include normal questions about your performance, strengths, weaknesses, areas for improvement, reliability, communication style, teamwork, leadership, attendance, and how you responded to feedback or performance reviews.
Sometimes the concern is not that a referee will be deliberately negative. The concern may be that they will be honest in a way that needs to be understood, prepared for, or balanced with a stronger explanation of your strengths.
Get Hired Help helps you unpack what may be said about you, where the risks may be, and what you can strengthen before your next opportunity.
What sorts of things can come up in a reference check?
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A reference check may go well beyond confirming your job title and dates of employment.
Referees are often asked about your performance, reliability, attitude, communication, ability to work with others, response to feedback, areas for development, reasons for leaving, and whether they would rehire you.
They may also be asked about performance reviews, probation, workplace conflict, management concerns, or anything that may be relevant to the role you are applying for.
The value of a reference check is that it can help you understand what may be said before an employer hears it first.
Will my referee know I am worried about the reference?
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No. We do not tell the referee that you are worried about them, that you have concerns about the reference, or that you are trying to test what they may say.
Before any contact is made, we will talk with you about the best approach. You will have a say in how we engage with the referee, what we say, and how the conversation is positioned.
The aim is to keep the process professional, respectful, and discreet, while still giving you useful insight into how that referee may speak about you.
Will I be involved in how the referee is approached?
4
Yes. A reference check can sometimes reveal useful development areas.
You may learn that a former manager saw strengths you did not recognise, or that there are areas you could improve before your next role. This might relate to communication, confidence, organisation, leadership, teamwork, resilience, or how you respond to feedback.
The purpose is not just to identify risk. It is also to help you understand how you are perceived and how you can present yourself more strongly in future applications, interviews, and employment.
Can this help me improve my own performance?
7
Yes. You will be involved before any reference contact is made.
We will talk through who the referee is, your relationship with them, what you are worried about, what outcome you are hoping for, and the most appropriate way to approach the conversation.
This matters because every situation is different. A former manager, business owner, HR contact, colleague, or supervisor may each require a different approach.
In some situations, yes.
If a referee is likely to be negative, unclear, or overly focused on a difficult period, we may be able to discuss options for a more constructive approach. This could include helping clarify your strengths, addressing misunderstandings, or acting as a middle point in a professional conversation.
This is an additional step and is not always suitable. It depends on the referee, the relationship, the history, and whether there is a realistic opportunity to improve the situation.
The goal is not to pressure anyone or create a false reference. The goal is to explore whether a fairer, more balanced reference can be achieved.
Can you help repair a bad reference?
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If the reference raises concerns, we will help you understand what was said, what it may mean, and what your options are.
A concerning reference does not always mean the situation is hopeless. Sometimes the issue can be managed by choosing a different referee, preparing a better explanation, strengthening your interview answers, or addressing the concern directly.
In some cases, there may also be an option to engage with the referee in a more constructive way, with your agreement, to see whether the damage can be repaired or the reference can be made more balanced.