Any ideas how to share a former employer reference with prospective employer- when the former company/bosses screwed you over and stole your clients after a "covid layoff"..cough

anyone ever experienced this crap? I feel almost embarrassed to share this and pretty insecure about this.. here goes..


This might seem arrogantly negative but I was in the top 10% in sales at the company, I broke several company records, I had the highest earning clients-ever at the place, and millions in the pipeline, closed a 12 million ( cold acquired and closed), never got 1 one penny from the deal due to a sudden "budget cut covid layoff". I got screwed. AND A former client has contacted me to say the company is (according to his story) harassing him and cussing him out etc by phone, he was one the highest revenue clients I acquired-alone, he had to get his lawyer involved.


*Contract stated if fired/or quit within a year all clients and deals are in ownership of the firm-how convenient-covid excuse to steal my Big deals to save their rev. when they are millionaires. I had to get on unemployment for the first time in my life and thankfully got a 6-six figure temp contract, that has ended, recently and here I am, again.


Lay it on me... How the hell do I share all of this success and give or not give these ppl info as a reference check!!!

Sharing Employer References from a bad work experience..

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🏰 War Stories
😤 Conflict Resolution
🧠 Advice
11
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
9
☕️
In short: that reference is unusable.
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Thank you for sharing!!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
8
🦊
Sorry bud that reference doesn't exist anymore. 
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Thank you for sharing!!
funcoupons
WR Officer
6
👑
Unless you had a manager that was on your side and sympathetic to the situation that you can give the direct contact info for, that company is no longer a reference.
pizzasavage
Contributor
1
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Good points.. Thank you
Incognito
WR Officer
5
Master of Disaster
Um, can’t you just tell them you’re awesome and have other references back up your claims? Perhaps that former client? 
pizzasavage
Contributor
1
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
That's an awesome idea. I will consider this one. I just do not understand the purpose anyway. I have never heard of someone giving a bad reference lol.

Thank you for sharing!!!!!
Incognito
WR Officer
4
Master of Disaster
Once again, I will remind everyone that in New York State it is illegal for a former employer to do or say anything other than confirming employment. 
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Good share-thank you!
TheOverTaker
Politicker
2
Senior Account Executive
wouldnt want those people vouching for me anyway. Who knows what they might say
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
6
☕️
I had a former manager, who I thought we were on good terms (left before me), try to scuttle my chances. He was jealous of the opportunity I was up for (which I got), and did all he could to paint me as a bad fit. He's since been fired from two roles...karma is a bitch.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Ouch.   Got what he deserved, but that's rotten.
TheOverTaker
Politicker
2
Senior Account Executive
trust no one
pizzasavage
Contributor
1
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Wow. I am sorry to hear of this-that's really bad. But clearly you are a savage and got the role anyway. Curious how you came out this situation??
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
4
☕️
They were a former CXO level at the company I was leaving--left for another opportunity but we were homies up to the end and after. Needles to say, but we are no longer cordial.
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Good share-thank you!
pizzasavage
Contributor
1
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
True bro true. I have feeling they have said something previously  to a backdoor reference, because the company ghosted me-completely, after a verbal offer from their head of global expansion. Pretty sad and hurt so bad. 
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Ouch again!   That's unprofessional.
pizzasavage
Contributor
1
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Very.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Use other references.  
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Thanks for sharing..!
justatopproducer
Politicker
2
VP OF SALES -US
Ive been telling recruiters I wont give a refernence anymore. Or, I say all former employers are publicly traded and they use rhe “work” number. They arent allowed to answer any questions and can only refer to that number. It verifies you were an employee, dates of employement and title I beleive. Or, even better. Ask them for references back from former and current employers.
funcoupons
WR Officer
1
👑
What has the response been like? I’m also sick of the reference clown show. 
justatopproducer
Politicker
1
VP OF SALES -US
So far so good, I’ve had some start-ups not even ask for a resume. I am transparent though about the references and I always offer them after im hired as well. Being in the top of sales in the company it’s been my experience that leadership isnt very happy that i’m even looking. Also have had managers sand bag opportunities so they didnt lose me. So, I wont give them referenses until I start.
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
This is just pure savage tips.. wowowowo. This community is so supportive, very very grateful for this support. 

Solid. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
1
VP of Sales
The reference is unusable, but if you have any stats or proof of your accomplishments that should be plenty.

The best might be that client of yours. He hates your former company but he has no reason to hate you.

What you achieved doesn’t disappear just because the company blows.  Telling a new employer straight up, that you were shocked by their behaviour and conduct and unwilling to give them as a reference, but ‘these are the things I achieved before I left’… it works.

I have honestly never had trouble explaining a past employers shortcomings and never not been believed.  Do it without being a whiny negative bitch, take some responsibility and the new employer pretty much always understands.
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
Find some other references.
pizzasavage
Contributor
0
Account Executive, Partner/Client Success
Working on it..
Fenderbaum
Politicker
0
Retired Choirboy🪕
I agree, unusable.
16
Members only

What are you thoughts on employer needing to check your references before making an offer?

Discussion
28
16

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Question
17