Checking your own references

Q: I worked for an insurance company five years ago and didn't get along with the hiring manager's replacement. She asked me to evaluate her. An external agency made the evaluation. Because the situation was very bad at the company, I started to look for another job.

Before the first interview, I was given an evaluation asking me to do something so I could cover tasks of a senior analyst who'd left. I quit and found a job.

My former co-worker came to the new company at the same time, brought the evaluation and gave it to my new bosses. I was bullied at the new workplace and constantly under the threat of being fired.

When I interview, I always feel they've contacted the former company, which is giving bad information about me. Is there anything that I can do?

A: While you've had bad employment situations, don't assume that companies will contact previous employers until after a successful interview.

Are you sure your enemies still work there? The last five years have been tumultuous in the workplace. Pay a reference-checking service to call the company or get a friend to do it for you.

PEOPLE

Q: If you wrote a short book on "How To Find a Job If You're Over 50," what would be in it? I'm 60 and have the distinct feeling that I'm not getting responses due to age, even though I have over 30 years as a high-tech marketing director.

A: Read everything you can about how to job hunt. Don't just apply online.

Go through people, the contacts and friends you've developed. Ask what skills a company wants. Get them. Omit degree dates and early (junior) experience. Market yourself as a consultant. Work into a job in a company or another that does business with it. Smaller companies, which will have fewer applicants, will be looking for multiple skills. Know what yours are.

If you have to, volunteer to work to get skills or demonstrate that you have them.

Research Google to find which companies of all sizes have older workers. Some win awards. Think about products and services appealing to the mature market. Some of those companies will want their employees to be like their customers.

Consider another real possibility - starting a business.

(Dr. Mildred Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. © 2012 Passage Media. The opinions are solely those of the writer.)