Am I justified in giving this guy a bad reference?

FDF12389

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2005
5,234
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I used to work with a guy who had personality issue, specifically anger management issues. Nobody really like this guy, and few people got along with him. I was amicable enough to work with him, but I really hated him. Besides the personality issues he really is not qualified for this job, and he is lying on his resume.

He didn't put me as a reference, but the person interviewing him asked me if I knew of him from my previous job at company X.

Dick move or justified?
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
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81
i would probably just say that I hadn't had much interaction with him
 

Saga

Banned
Feb 18, 2005
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The easiest answer to this question is this: when he applied for the job that forced you to work with him, how much less stress would you have endured had someone had the balls to speak the truth when asked the same thing you are being asked now.

You are potentially preventing someone elses misery.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
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Elligable for rehire?

Hell no.

Leave it at that. Don't want to get sued.

Edit +1 Saga.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
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I don't think it's very fair or professional of the interviewer to bring you into this situation.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
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Justified - your were asked your opinion w/ respect to employment
 

rsd

Platinum Member
Dec 30, 2003
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If he had used you as a reference I would decline/not say anything, but if someone at your company asks your opinion I would be honest personally. You (or your co-workers) will have to live with working with them if they hire him.
 

FDF12389

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2005
5,234
7
76
i would probably just say that I hadn't had much interaction with him

Thing is, I absolutely don't want to work with this guy again. I have never given anyone a bad reference before, it seems like it would be a dick move. But at the same time this guy is a dick all the time...

Decisions decisions.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,337
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Thing is, I absolutely don't want to work with this guy again. I have never given anyone a bad reference before, it seems like it would be a dick move. But at the same time this guy is a dick all the time...

Decisions decisions.
There is no decision with what you just posted.
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
Thing is, I absolutely don't want to work with this guy again. I have never given anyone a bad reference before, it seems like it would be a dick move. But at the same time this guy is a dick all the time...

Decisions decisions.

I've ALWAYS gone out of my way to be nice to you....

:sneaky:
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
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81
Why? The OP would be an unbias reference. It's done all the time.

But it's not unbiased because he stated that he thinks the guy is a dick. Different places do stuff in different ways, but when I'm hiring somebody I can only use what's on paper in making my decision. If there's nothing documented about his behavior then I don't get to take it into consideration.
 

FDF12389

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2005
5,234
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But it's not unbiased because he stated that he thinks the guy is a dick. Different places do stuff in different ways, but when I'm hiring somebody I can only use what's on paper in making my decision. If there's nothing documented about his behavior then I don't get to take it into consideration.

I unbiasly know he's a dick. :p
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
But it's not unbiased because he stated that he thinks the guy is a dick. Different places do stuff in different ways, but when I'm hiring somebody I can only use what's on paper in making my decision. If there's nothing documented about his behavior then I don't get to take it into consideration.

it's unbiased in that it's not somebody the candidate listed as a reference. anyone who was listed would be much more likely to give a positive spin.

on second thought OP, if him getting hired means you'll have to work with him again, just save yourself and your company the pain, and be honest.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
But it's not unbiased because he stated that he thinks the guy is a dick. Different places do stuff in different ways, but when I'm hiring somebody I can only use what's on paper in making my decision. If there's nothing documented about his behavior then I don't get to take it into consideration.

The recruiter does not know this, to him, it's unbiased b/c it's not a reference that the applicant has submitted(who will give him a good one). I'll always contact others when hiring if possible, as it give you larger picture of an applicant than a resume and interview can provided.

Example, guy could be a suck-up to his superiors but a dick to his fellow colleagues and helps to verify his story. I don't take hiring lightly and don't want to have to find a replacement down the road if things don't work out. I know our HR dept uses an Investigation Service to verify the applicants background.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
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But it's not unbiased because he stated that he thinks the guy is a dick. Different places do stuff in different ways, but when I'm hiring somebody I can only use what's on paper in making my decision. If there's nothing documented about his behavior then I don't get to take it into consideration.

well that's stupid.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
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The easiest answer to this question is this: when he applied for the job that forced you to work with him, how much less stress would you have endured had someone had the balls to speak the truth when asked the same thing you are being asked now.

You are potentially preventing someone elses misery.

+1
 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
0
0
I used to work with a guy who had personality issue, specifically anger management issues. Nobody really like this guy, and few people got along with him. I was amicable enough to work with him, but I really hated him. Besides the personality issues he really is not qualified for this job, and he is lying on his resume.

He didn't put me as a reference, but the person interviewing him asked me if I knew of him from my previous job at company X.

Dick move or justified?

justified.

The easiest answer to this question is this: when he applied for the job that forced you to work with him, how much less stress would you have endured had someone had the balls to speak the truth when asked the same thing you are being asked now.

You are potentially preventing someone elses misery.

this.

So is he now applying for your company? If so, definitely say no. He's going to affect your bottom line one way or another.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
repeat after me, "I would have no hesitation in making a hiring decision regarding Mr. X."

That's all you have to say and no one can ever sue you.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
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www.integratedssr.com
dick move = what he guy did on a daily basis while he worked with you, apparently, unless he really wasn't an asshole and didn't have anger issues or anything.

think of it as a life lesson he had to learn sooner or later.
 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
10
81
But it's not unbiased because he stated that he thinks the guy is a dick. Different places do stuff in different ways, but when I'm hiring somebody I can only use what's on paper in making my decision. If there's nothing documented about his behavior then I don't get to take it into consideration.

so you don't take personality into account during an interview?