Find management, clinical, and paraprofessional positions in healthcare, nursing,
financial, construction, architecture, manufacturing and legal fields.

Employment Today™


"DEAD & VANISHED EX-EMPLOYERS = NO REFERENCES, NO NEW JOB!"

Dear Kathryn:

My employment choices have been good from the standpoint of the experience I've gained but lousy in terms of the companies themselves.

Unbelievable as it might seem, my last four employers have gone out of business or have been bought out. The people that I reported to have either left the area, died or wouldn't give me a great reference.

I have been denied six jobs because I didn't have references to check. I don't have copies of my reviews and am running out of unemployment compensation. I'm ready to draft my own letters of recommendation from my deceased supervisors on company letterhead which I have stashed. I know you'll say it's not ethical, but a couple of reference letters from deceased supervisors that I know would have said good things anyway doesn't hurt anyone.

The bottom line is I need a job and today's employers aren't hiring without references.

SUSAN T., Middletown, CT

Dear Susan:

Take your last idea of faking references on stolen letterhead and forget you ever thought of it. For someone that seems so creative, I'm surprised you didn't come up with a better strategy. Here are a few suggestions.

Think beyond supervisors and conjure up a list of clients or vendors, or any outside contractors that dealt with you. Ask them to write a few words that tell of their positive experience in dealing with you. Ask if you can physically pick up the letters to get them in hand as quickly as possible. Also ask permission to selectively use them as a reference (assure them of this, as most people don't want lots of phone calls regarding references.)

The more letters you have, combined with a killer resume outlining accomplishments, the more substantial a package of skills you present. In addition, the letters will validate what you have on the resume.

Next, tell the employer that, for example, you're hoping to work for a day in their environment, enabling both of you to judge just how good a match you'd be. By doing this, you should be able to convince the employer of the seriousness of your intentions regarding your next employment commitment.

While there are no guarantees in the job market game, I'm sure you don't want your next employer to do the going out of business thing you've experienced so many times. Do your homework as to the past stability and future growth plans of the company. Ask current employees what percentage the salary increases have been and whether benefits or perks have been cut or policies on overtime or bonuses squashed. Generally, those are the first tell-tale signs of a company not doing well and may be your signal to keep on looking.

Dear Kathryn:

Dear Kathryn: I've been put in the middle between management and the partner I support. I work for a partner who produces enormous billing. In addition to the normal legal support I provide him, I do a lot of his personal work, some of it not above board. Management exploded when they saw the overtime I've been logging and for which I've been getting paid during the last three months. They asked me for a line-by- line explanation of the personal work I did for the attorney. As it involved an area of business I know would be considered fraudulent, I told them the attorney would need to provide the explanation.

I've been issued a probation notice due to my insubordination. My attorney's on vacation for another week but feel I've gotten in over my head and now my jobs on the line.

While I really like my boss and feel a loyalty to protect the confidential work I've been doing for him, the firm is the one paying me and they're threatening my job. Can I be fired for not revealing the nature of the overtime work I do? If someone discovered my attorney's unethical and illegal activities, will I be potentially held liable? Where do I have to turn?

ALISON E., West Haven, CT

Dear Alison:

You're a bright woman and you've already put your finger on the answer. First, you acknowledge the firm is the one signing your check. While loyalty to your attorney is terrific, his loyalty to you consists of his asking you to assist him in "fraudulent work"! This is not a fair trade. As you work for the firm, the firm will call the shots about your employment unless your attorney will pull strings upon his return. If he offers to personally to pay for your overtime work, or convince upper management it's worth it as he's a big biller, then he's got the clout and $$ to call the shots.

As his return will be imminent, stay mum and request a face-to-face with him, explaining the events. This is the appropriate time to also disentangle yourself from the questionable personal work.

I spoke of your matter with Attorney Brian Clemow and he says without knowing more of your actual involvement in this fraudulent activity, it's impossible to predict your liability should something blow up.

Take stock of what you value. I'm assuming it's your job and integrity before anything else. Understand this: if you don't get disentangled from the shady work you've been dealing with, you can't blame anyone but yourself when you get caught in a sticky mess.