When you leave a job on bad terms, your main concern might be the prospect of receiving a bad employment reference. It may even put you off applying for jobs in the first place, or you might be tempted to make up a contact from your last employment. Most employers will ask for two or three references, with your last job being of most interest. If you have concerns over your reference, you needn’t worry; you can take steps to deal with it.

What is a negative employment reference?

Although we all want to leave employment on good terms, this is not always possible. For example, it might be that you didn’t see eye to eye with your manager, you had poor attendance that caused you to lose your job, or you simply couldn’t meet the expectations of the role. Understandably, if you left your previous employment on bad terms, you might be worried about a negative employment reference. 

Do you need a reference?

Most employers use references to give them a better understanding of how you will perform in the role. It gives them peace of mind that hiring you will be a positive experience. Most employers will want a reference from your last employer, and usually, a minimum of two references are required. Here is a guide on dealing with a negative employment reference.

Contact your previous employer

It may be worth contacting your previous employer to determine what you should expect from a reference. You should share your concerns with them if you left on bad terms. It is the policy for many organisations to only provide dates of employment in employment references, so your worries might be unwarranted. If you discover that you will indeed receive a bad reference, it is better to be upfront and honest with your prospective employer. For example, if you lost your job due to poor attendance, you can explain what caused the absences. Employers will be much more willing to hire you if you are honest about the situation from the offset.

Increase positive recommendations

If you expect to receive a poor reference, ensure you have plenty of positive references to back yourself. For instance, you can ask for recommendations on LinkedIn and direct the employer there. If you have several good references, and only one bad reference, there is every chance they will still proceed with the hire.

Ask for a copy

Even if you have left your previous employment on bad terms, it is vital that what is said is accurate and reflective of the situation. If there are questions about your reference, ask for a copy so you can go back to your previous employer to ask them to rectify it.

If you are looking for a new CV or LinkedIn profile to help you reach your true potential, contact us or order directly via our website. 

It can be highly challenging if you are out of work, whether by choice or not. You may have reached the point where you are starting to worry about your finances, and you might be concerned about keeping a roof over your family’s heads. We are not going to pretend that these feelings are not justified or, indeed, that the next job is right around the corner. However, the reality is that often these situations are entirely out of our hands, and all we can do is bide our time and wait it out. If you are in a position where you have lost your job or resigned, you will be experiencing all kinds of feelings. These are some ways you can cope with being out of work.

Understand Your Finances

The major cause of worry for someone who is out of work is, of course, their finances. The feeling that you are losing a grip on your finances and the fear of how you will pay bills in the future can be overwhelming. The first step in this situation is to sit down and work out exactly what your incomings and outgoings are and how long you can afford to be out of work. If your finances will only allow you to be out of work for a couple of months, it would be a good idea to look into your options should you not find any employment. For example, you might be entitled to Universal Credit, other child benefits, etc. The Citizens Advice Bureau is a great place to get free advice on what you are entitled to. Don’t wait until it’s too late to do some research.

Set a Routine

Make sure you have a routine for your day. Otherwise, you could quickly end up wasting your entire day. Without a routine, there is every chance that you will end up staying up until all hours and spending the morning in bed. A few hours in the morning for job searching is sufficient; it is not practical or healthy to spend your entire day thinking about work or lack thereof. The rest of the day could be spent on exercise, doing things you enjoy, such as reading and seeing friends and family.

Practice Mindfulness

It is important to realise that there is only so much you can do to find a job. Otherwise, it is out of your control. As long as you spend some time trying to find a job each day, you can spend the rest of the day on activities you enjoy. Practicing mindfulness by only thinking about the here and now instead of what the future may or may not hold will be hugely beneficial.

Share Your Worries

If you are out of work, it can seriously knock on your confidence and feelings of self-worth. Our jobs are a significant part of us; without this, you may feel a little lost. Don’t be afraid to open up and share your worries with loved ones. It is a time to seek out the support you need.

Network

Get yourself out and network! There are many events on places like Eventbrite, where you can attend events with like-minded people. Not only will this take your mind off your work situation, but it will also give you a chance to make new connections and possibly, connections that can provide or help you find work.

If you are looking for work and want your CV to help you get a foot in the door, contact us today, and we will create the best CV to support your job search.

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LinkedIn is the most popular social media platform for professionals, and with over 850 million members across 200 countries, it makes sense to integrate it into your job search efforts. However, LinkedIn can seem like a bit of a minefield if you have never used it before. First, you create a profile and connect with relevant people, but what happens next, and can it help you secure a job?

The answer is yes, it can help you in your efforts to find a job, and these are just some ways to use it as part of your job search.

Enhance Your Profile

Recruiters use LinkedIn daily to find candidates. They do this by searching for specific skills, job titles, and locations, so you must ensure your profile is full of information and up to date. The profile should contain information on what you can do and what you are looking for; be as detailed as possible.

Professional Photo

You should always have a photo on your profile, as it makes people feel like they can engage and relate better to you. Remember that this is a professional platform. A finance director sitting on the couch with his dog does not scream professionalism (that is more suited to Facebook.) You are there to do business, whether finding a job or building your network, so ensure your photo reflects this.

Make Connections

With LinkedIn, it is not about connecting with as many people as possible for the sake of it; it is about finding the right connections. For example, those hiring within your field or perhaps employees of a firm you'd like to work for. The great thing about LinkedIn is that you can get directly to the source. You can connect with Directors, hiring managers, and recruiters, without having to go through numerous other avenues first.

Get Recommendations

Recruiters will often check the profile of suitable candidates to see if they have any recommendations. These are basically like references and show that people regard you highly. Reach out to previous employers, university tutors, clients, etc. If you scroll down on the profile page of your LinkedIn, you will see a recommendation section. You can click on the + sign and 'ask for recommendations,' select the relevant person and how you know them. Most people will be happy to provide this (if you can have good relations, that is!)

Highlight Availability

You might have noticed that some users of LinkedIn have 'open to work' on their LinkedIn profile, which is used to help notify recruiters that they are interested in hearing about opportunities. In some cases, recruiters will search for those with 'open to work' on their profile, so it is worth considering on your own. To access this, go to your profile, click on the button entitled ‘open to’ and choose ‘finding a new job.’

Be Active

You need to be active if you want to get noticed in a sea of over 850 million people. Share posts you like, comment on other people's posts that interest you, and share your views. People are always looking for like-minded connections, and the more active you are on LinkedIn, the more people will notice you.

Introduce Yourself

If you have connected with a Director from a company you'd love to work for, don't just sit back and wait for someone to reach out to you. It does not pay to be shy on LinkedIn, so get brave and reach out first. Don't just say 'hello, how are you,' as most people feel uncomfortable with this approach on a professional networking platform. Of course, saying hello, how are you is part of the conversation, but let them know what you want. Get to the point; they will appreciate it.

For example:

 'Hi Simon, how are you? I have just noticed your post regarding a social media manager vacancy and wondered if we could have a chat about it. I have six years' experience, and I'm currently looking to move from my current employer.'

It is polite while also getting to the nuts and bolts of why you reached out. No one wants small talk on LinkedIn; they are there for a reason.

If you are looking for your LinkedIn profile to be created or enhanced, get in touch with us today, and our experienced writers will be happy to assist you.

You should think about your cover letter as an introduction. It is the place where you let the hiring manager know who you are and what has led you to this place. It allows you to write more freely than you would in your CV, which will enable you to personalise it a bit more. You don't need to follow the same structured format as you would with a CV, it is a free-form style of writing. It can also allow you to include additional information that might intrigue the hiring manager, such as any significant achievements and your motivation for applying for the role. We would always suggest you include a cover letter when applying for a job unless there is no option to attach this or the employer explicitly requests a CV only.

These are some tips for creating a cover letter that will attract the hiring manager's attention.

Short and sweet

If your cover letter is the size of a novel, the hiring manager is unlikely to take the time to read through it. A long cover letter could turn them off from reading it at all. A cover letter should only be around one page in length. You should not just reiterate the details from your CV; this is a more informal, personalised introduction to the CV. You may wish to mention why you applied for the role, discuss any gaps on your CV, and talk about your main achievements.

Formal Greeting

Your CV should always include a formal introduction. It should either be the primary contact's name, if this is on the job advert, or you can write 'recruitment team' if this information is not readily available. You should not say 'hi' or 'hello' as this is too informal. Instead, it should be something like 'Dear Mr. Graham.'

Avoid Generic Introductions

With a cover letter, you don't have much time to make an impact, so you want to get to the main highlights of your experience and skills from the offset. Avoid generic introductions such as 'I am writing to apply for the administrator role advertised in the job centre, as I feel I am the right fit for the role.' Instead, something like 'I would like to apply for the job of administrator as I am a highly organised individual who increased efficiency in my last role by 50%’, would be much more impactful.

Include a call to action

Let the hiring manager know what you want them to do through a call to action at the end of your cover letter. Are you keen to discuss the company and role in more detail? Would you love to be invited to interview? Let the hiring manager know what you want them to do next. For example, 'I am excited about this role and would relish the opportunity to discuss it in more detail.'

At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with a tailored CV and cover letter to suit your needs. You can order online or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to arrange your FREE consultation.