1. I am currently a student working at Walmart in a specific department. I'm a cashier but in a specific department of Walmart Canada. Each department has its own manager/assistant manager and stuff, but the manager of my department isn't actually around much. And when he is, he's just minding his own business and doesn't really look at the other workers. SO, when i get another job in the future and need to give a job reference, who from Walmart will be my reference? There are 'CSMs' as well, but there are SO many employees, how will they remember a certain employee enough to be a reference? I just don't understand that at a big store like this, who can be my 'reference' for the future.
2. I worked at a fast food restaurant for half a year quite a while back. If i want to use my supervisor from this restaurant as a reference for the future, what will i call her and tell her? How will she remember me and how I was, my work-related characteristics? How do you call a reference and what do you tell them?
These things are confusing me. So far, I've only used teachers as a reference because I'm still 19 and haven't had many jobs. Now at a big store like Walmart i have no clue who can ever be my reference for the future.
Thanks.
It is generally quite a chore, for every party involved.
You have to contact your past supervisors and ask for their availability. Then you have to provide contacts to your prospect employer, and finally a perfect stranger will contact another perfect stranger and gossip about a third person.
As I see it, quite biased and pointless. Anyway...
One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot be sure o how your past supervisors see you. You may think they have a good opinion about you, and not realize that what they are telling your prospect employer is "just lukewarm". Unfortunately, today employers want, and sadly can, only hire the perfect candidates (how this creates a sort of Aryan race, and fosters Eugenics is a whole different topic).
Most likely, your past supervisors, if they still work at the same place, will either disclose basic information, such as date of hire, date of separation, role with marginal description, and eventually pay. In case they would not be available anymore (changed job etc.), then the new manager will refer the reference checker to HR. HR in general does disclose only the basic information.
Please note that, while giving a reference, an opinion may be construed to be defamation, and it could be ground for legal action against the offender.
My suggestion to you is to use a professional reference check service -which you can find more about online- and use the information provided you to decide what references provide.
Another thing you wish to keep in mind is Social Media. It is not uncommon for employers today to work behind the scene, by leveraging their contacts to gather unsolicited references.
Finally, because of job turnover, and because of the size of some companies, references are hard to obtain, and keep. Nevertheless, I believe you should provide the names you have. I would like to believe that knowing they are dealing with a large Corporation, your prospect employers would know how to approach the situation.
Also, your professors are a good reference. Just make sure to talk with them and ask them what they are going to say --maybe not being forward, but in a nice and soft way, try to see what their reference will be. Yo do not want someone who says warm things about you, but someone who depicts you as a star!
Good Luck.
You can't help if people remember you or not in a large company. If you can, you should talk to people who you wish to use as reference and make sure they remember you.
However, even if they don't remember you... you can still use them as a reference. The worst thing is that a potential employer calls and they say that they don't remember you. That isn't terrible. It at least means they don't remember having any problems with you, you being repeatedly later, missing shifts, having fired you, etc. Also, many supervisors will pretend to remember you rather than admit they don't -- as it makes them look bad if they didn't do performance reviews, manage staff, note problems, etc.
In most cases they will remember you, just not much about you. Again, that isn't bad. When people are checking references (especially are lower-end jobs) they are typically looking to ensure that you didn't have any serious problems (missing work, drugs, talking on the phone all day, etc.) rather than detailed or glowing reviews of how well you did.
1. Sure put the supervisor down. You can also talk to them and ask if they are ok. Putting down a co-worker might be suspicious. If you must, put both their names down.
2. Sure put that person down. Call them and ask if you need to. If they don't remember much about you when someone calls... that is a good thing. They didn't fire you for drugs, talking on the phone, etc.
Employers keep staff records for a number of years after a member of staff has left their employment. The record will contain notes on any disciplinary actions, awards, promotions, wages etc.
It doesn't matter if the person giving the reference knows or remembers the employee, it's all in their records.
I am sure ur manager remembers u whether he minds his business or not and legally he can't give u bad reference unless he has pcr to back it up.
