Unresponsive manager after layoff

Hello awesome people!


I was laid off from work a couple of weeks ago and have been using this community's help in my job search. I have tried to contact my manager to get a recommendation letter/confirmation for reference for my next job, but he has been unresponsive.


I have a letter from HR that mentions my job responsibilities and that I was laid off for restructuring.


I am wondering if this is normal.


Is it okay to provide a coworker from my job as a recommendation?

🎈 Mentorship
☂️ Layoffs
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10
Sunbunny31
Politicker
8
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Totally normal to only have the "yes, MoreCompassion worked here for this period of time".

Don't bother getting the recommendation from your manager unless s/he is going to write a glowing one. You won't need your manager to confirm your work history.

The hiring company will reach out to your previous employer to confirm employment, and that will be the end of it. They won't discuss your performance or anything else about your time there, because that exposes them to potential legal liability.

IF they have issues confirming your work history, having the info you have already obtained from HR will be helpful.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
It's really that cut and dry. 💯
champchamp
Arsonist
2
Certified Savage
You’re a gangstaaa
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Say it louder so my teen son can hear you. He definitely doesn’t know I’m cool.
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
4
Account Executive
Same thing happened to me. Part of a mass layoff, VP of sales asks for my email so he can send me a letter of recommendation and that he'd be happy to be a reference for me on my applications. 6 months later, and despite me reaching out I've gotten nothing but crickets.

It's fine if you think I sucked at my job (though bringing in $1.7 million in deals is good in my view) but why bother offering such a thing if you have no intention on following through?
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
3
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
I think it's normal. I also would consider if your manager too was laid off lol.
Nonetheless - the HR letter works just fine. LOR can be from anyone (credible) you have worked with, not just your manager.

Layoffs are messy, so maybe the restructuring didn't go that well and your ex-manager no longer does what he/she was doing initially. So.
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
2
☕️
Most companies bar managers from giving references beyond “yes, they worked here on my team”.
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Yes, its normal. You don't exist to your manager anymore essentially, and probably most of your former co-workers. Its a fact of life.

Also, just so you understand, your manager probably can not provide you a recommendation. There is probably a company policy against it. Besides, why would you want it? They let you go.

At best, your previous company will state the fact you worked there, your position, and the dates you worked there.
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
Sorry to hear that.
I believe that your HR letter is good enough to explain your work history including the handled tasks nature and the experience you gained.
Maybe try to reach him one last time, if still no response yet,then you need to mainly count on your network and your job applications at many places after making sure to attach the restructuring as a reason for the layoff on your resume and wish you best of luck with your search!
punishedlad
Tycoon
1
🧙‍♂️
Man, I wouldn't stress too bad. Take your HR letter and run if they're being unresponsive.

I was part of a layoff a few years ago where the CEO wrote us all recommendations on LinkedIn, which was really clutch. Granted, the whole company was maybe 30 people.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Don’t worry about that too much, leverage others at your former company to give you a recommendation.

I went through something similar a few months ago at my old company. Manager said she’d give me a recommendation after. Didn’t take her up on it (had better options for references tbh), and have no clue if she would’ve followed through. Leverage folks who know would recommend and speak highly of you, just as much as you’d speak highly of them.
14

Rejected by recruiter for SDR position before any interview, despite having referral and track record. My inner-salesman is telling me to ignore the rejection and start reaching out to Sales Managers directly.

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