Don't know what my reference from my last job is?

I need help. In my last job I worked for a temp agency for 5 years. I do not understand why they stopped sending me on job assignments when they kept saying to me that my employers gave me good reviews. I don't know whether they will give me a good reference or a bad reference. I'm so confused! I called them and asked them if I should use them as a reference and they said with reluctance, "You can." I even wrote the president of the company and all he sent me back after I requested my job history was pay history. THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! I believe that I have a legal right to my files but they are not giving me any copies nor are they giving me an understanding of why they stopped sending me on assignments. I'm soo confused. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO?

Nermal

If you've already asked and someone says it's okay to use them as a reference, you can assume they will have positive things to say about you (whether they are accurate or not). If they didn't think highly of you, they probably would have said not to use them as a reference at all.

If you're creating a sheet of references to accompany a resume or on a job application form, after getting their permission, I think you only need that reference person's name, phone number, relationship to yourself, current position/company, possibly address. You could just type this info yourself in Word, and I'm sure Monster.com has examples and how-to guides.

As for the mystery behind your temp agency, I'm not really sure of any legal action you can take since you probably had to sign some sort of contract when you initially started working for them. If they seem shady, then you didn't want to be working for them anyways, so move on and find another place. If you were working at a particular assignment for a while, try asking the manager if you could use them directly as a reference as opposed to your agency. If a job that you are applying to asks for your permanent file, just refer them to your temp agency and expalin that you don't have access to it.

rwa000

first of all your former employer is under no obligation to give you anything, secondly it is a urban myth that they can only report certain things to prospective employers, that can tell them anything they want as long as it is the truth not opinion. Some may refuse and that is certainly their right others will only respond to certain inquires

gitargal

By law, when you submit an application for consideration, there are only a few questions your former employer may answer about your time there. They can verify the length of time employed there, if they ask a specific amount of your pay, the former employer may only confirm that amount, if it is not the same as you listed, they may not give the correct amount, they can tell your former job title, and if they would consider you eligible for rehire. If the answer is no, they can not legally state the reason why without violating your right to privacy. I would not let this drive you crazy. There would be nothing they could say to make you look bad. The paper you received from the president of the company is a lot more than they would be allowed to show a potential employer.

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