Damage control during job hunt....

[catnapper]

Hubby is on the hunt for a new job. He's had several AWESOME interviews and no job offers. On a hunch, he had a administrator friend from another state call posing as a possible new employer. His current principal (he's a teacher) answered "no" to the standard "would you hire him again if you had the chance?" Hubby knew in his heart that was happening and it was like a gun shot to have it confirmed.

Hubby HATES his current job. He's feeling rail-roaded into the "he's a bad employee" position he's in. I won't go into the ILLEGAL things they've done to him and the union is turning a blind eye. He even took off the last part of the school year due to stress and being in a poisonous environment. Already, he's starting to get the chest pain he hasn't had all summer.... just thinking of going back into that place is stressing him out. However, his current principal has sabotaged any hope of getting out of the district by telling potential employers he'd never rehire him.


How can he get a new job if every employer is going to hear his current district would not rehire him? I know myself that my last employer would freely tell anybody what a horrible employee I am.... while my current job just rewarded me with the honor of being the #1 employee in the company's 5 stores!!! I'm the same person, the same employee... I was just in an environment that didn't mesh with my personality. Did that mean I'd be a bad employee for EVERY company? Thank God my current employer never called for a reference because I probably wouldn't have my job today!

HOW can hubby beat this? School hasn't started yet - it starts next week. I have the feeling that he'll be going out on disability again before labor day just based on the stress and how he's reacting already.

PS:
After the phone call to his current school, the admin. friend called back and asked hubby "what did you DO?!?!" because apparently it takes a LOT to have a principal admit "No, he wouldn't rehire them again". honestly, it would take volumes to explain what happened. Let me tell you, what happened is something the school is legally negligent on and they're passing the blame onto hubby because he's the one who realized the legality and started to blow the whistle. So rather than have him blow the whistle on the school, they're laying the blame on him.

[Freedom]

bummer. I used to head this off in the interview, even before they made the phone call. Because, if they get to the point of calling your CURRENT employer, they WANT you. Typically, they phone your prior employers ahead of time, but wait on the current employer as everyone knows that will put the word out that you are looking. No one intentionally does that.

Address the issue IN the interview. Sort of a "why I am looking when I have a job" type of thing. Capsulize, and tone will be very important. Have to sort of avoid the "gossip" attitude, the " they are nuts, I am superb" stuff. It will take some drafting at home ahead of time.

Best wishes to him.

[kuhio98]

If his current principal wants him gone, why wouldn't he talk him up -- say he walks on water -- to get rid of him?

Does he just want him around to keep torturing him?

[Medusa]

Try this affirmation; it's worked for me and a friend of mine who was out of work for over a year and she got hired w/in days of affirming it over and over again daily. "All employment doors are now open to (hubby's name). All employment channels are now free to (hubby's name). The whole wide world now says 'yes' to (hubby's name)." Keep saying it or better yet, if he's receptive to it, have hubby say it, until he gets the job he wants. It works miracles.

[Catty1]

I think calmly confronting the principal - best with a registered letter - requesting a list of reasons why he would not be hired back might be the ticket.

Following up on kuhio98, adding that if his job performance is unsatisfactory, he is more than happy to come to a mutual agreement about moving on, if the principal can recommend him to another position. (Maybe having to focus on things he does right will be a good mental exercise for this person!)

Another point - In Canada, or in Alberta, it is ILLEGAL for a prospective employer to ask ANYTHING about your previous job performance. All they are allowed to verify is that you are working, or did work, where you did.

He might want to state up front at interviews that the interviewer will get a negative reference when they call the school. He can simply say he has made attempts to rectify the situation, with no success.

If he has friends, particularly within the school, that he can use as personal/professional references, they can back up that he is good, and validate his current difficulties with the principal, again without getting into the 'gossip' arena.

There IS a perfect spot for your hubby - you just wait!

[Freedom]

Another point - In Canada, or in Alberta, it is ILLEGAL for a prospective employer to ask ANYTHING about your previous job performance. All they are allowed to verify is that you are working, or did work, where you did.

If he has friends, particularly within the school, that he can use as personal/professional references, they can back up that he is good, and validate his current difficulties with the principal, again without getting into the 'gossip' arena.

There IS a perfect spot for your hubby - you just wait!

First point, I believe it is the same here. That is why they ask "would you hire this person again?" It is the only way to do it.

Great suggestion to use colleagues from the "touchy spot" as references!

[NoahsMommy]

I've had this issue countless time due to my illness and because I work in the medical field (it actually pertains to ANY field), most of my past employers wont hire me due to my illness.

I've started working with temp agencies, and they become your reference. Tell him to be honest and the temp agency will speak up for him. He can also be honest in his interview and tell them that he's leaving on 'not so great terms' that pertain to morals and honesty. He can tell them that his current principal is giving him a bad name because he (your hubby) is standing up to the dishonesty, etc. going on.

It is a really hard position to be in. My working with these temp agencies that either are in my field (medical temp agencies for 6 months or regular temp agencies off and on) have given me my credibilty back.

I wish you both lots of luck. You both truly deserve it.

Hugs, Kelly

[Ginger's Mom]

If his current principal wants him gone, why wouldn't he talk him up -- say he walks on water -- to get rid of him?

Does he just want him around to keep torturing him?

Because he doesn't want to damage his own reputation by recommending a "trouble maker." Catnapper, please don't think I believe that is what your husband is, I am just saying that from the viewpoint of the principal.

I think Sandie's idea is a good one. Be straight forward, indicate that you are leaving your present job for a reason other than advancement, so that they know that the present job is not anxious to hire you back and why before they make the phone call.