Career Advice
·Last updated August 26, 2026
What to Do If You're Worried About a Bad Reference
TL;DR: Address it proactively rather than hoping it doesn't come up.
Choose your references carefully
You control who you list — if a past manager might not speak well of you, choose a different reference who genuinely will.
Get ahead of it if necessary
If a difficult past relationship is likely to surface anyway, briefly and honestly addressing it in the interview process is often better than being blindsided later.
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