asking a reference from a boss who was laid off

[DoubleV]

my was boss recently fired from our company. many different reasons why, but the bottom line is that nobody was satisfied with the way she managed things, never delivered results etc etc.

i didn't like many things about her, but never showed it and she seemed to have been of a nice opinion about me. She was a marketing director, not an IT person (we have a small company and there really isn't an IT department. As a web designer I am a part of the marketing department), but for some reason she always thought I was efficient in my work and I think in general she liked what I did.

I don't plan to look for a job in a month or two, but some circumstances in my personal life my force me to do so in half a year or so.

The thing is, that this is my first job in IT, so I have no professional references if I will be looking for a new job. all i would have is a reference from my boss when I worked as a customer service rep at a park district. So I thought that may be my fired boss would be an option. I am not sure for many reasons, though.
1. she might be holding a lot of anger towards the company right now and doesn't want to deal with anything and anybody relating to that.
2. I don't know what she was told when she was fired. I don't think I was the only reason she was fired (because of some things te\he copmany's president said to us), but I was aked some questiosn by the company's president a couple of weeks before it happened and i told him what i really thought of her management style.
3. i know her current address and phone number, but she is supposed to move at the end of this month. how would i keep in touch?

she was fired one evening (after everybody was already gone home from work) and never came back. she caled some people from our department home teh night she was fired, but I have moved recently and she didn't know my home phone. she never called me at work to say anything.

sorry this si being so long, i just wanted to explain the situation better because i feel it's tricky.

so the big question is; should i even try to get a reference from her? one part of me says 'no' because of what i had written above, teh other part says 'yes' because i think she liked me (work wise).

so ... I thought of sending her a christmans card for now. but then what? if she moves (and she should) how would i ask her for it then? i see an option of getting her email address, but how?

how do you guys see this and what do you think is the right move for me?

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Goals are dreams with deadlines
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http://www.nimlok.com

http://www.orbusinc.com

 

[carrr]

Why not ask her? Worst case, she tells you to bug off and you feel stung for a few minutes. Best case, you get your reference. Timidity is only going to assure that you get shut out. Find her and commiserate. She'd probably appreciate it.

But...I am curious about this statement:

"I was aked some questiosn by the company's president a couple of weeks before it happened and i told him what i really thought of her management style. [sic]"

Did you offer favorable comments, or did you offer something detrimental in response to the president's query? Depending on your answer, I'd let my conscience be my guide.

 

[DoubleV]

i tried to say neutral and not blame anyone in particular, i didn't poinr fingers etc, but I still tried to make it clear why i thing things aren't get done here.

the thing is, when he fired her, he told us he had already contacted a head hunter about 2 months ago to look for somebody, and that would have been way befor eI said what I said. So they already felt that she wasn't doing her job and it was coming anyway.

Should I ask her for a written reference or should I sk her if I'd be able to contact her if/when I'll be looking for a new job? I know she's supposed to move at teh end of December, so I'd loose contact with her unless I specifically find out how to contact her in the new place. I don't even know her personal email address.

--------------------------------------------------
Goals are dreams with deadlines
-------------------------------------

http://www.nimlok.com

http://www.orbusinc.com

 

[carrr]

If she were to consent, then pose the two to her and let her choose.

 

[SQLSister]

Since she isn't an IT person and will be relatively easy to lose track of, it may be hard to keep her as a reference. You might consider if her boss will give you a reference. OR whoever you work for now as there will be time in about 6 months for that person to have formed an opinion.

Remember in listing things for employment you do not have to use bosses as references, co-workers are also good references. You do have to list your bosses as supervisors however and provide a contact number if posible. When I have lost touch with a former boss (happens so easily these days), I fill in the name as the supervisor and put a note on it that the person is no longer employed there and give them the HR phone number to contact. All supervisors can generally do is confirm employment dates in most companies anyway which is why they want to contact them. Personal refernces are just that - people you thingk will give others a favorable opinion of you; they can be co-workers, second or third line supervisors, customers. Never use someone as a reference without discussing it with the person first and getting that person's agreement. Unless you are being laid off you or are moving out of town and the company is aware you are leaving, you almost always want the company to know they cannot contact your current boss. People have been fired from companies who found out they were job seeking.

 

[smedvid]

One thing to keep in mind... your personal contact network is essential in the IT world and future job searches. In my case, I worked for the same manager at 4 or 5 jobs. I followed him (3) times and he followed me once. Contacts are how you know about inside opportunities or find out other contacts who know your contacts. Personally, I would stay in contact and ask to use her as a professional reference.

htwh.

Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"

http://www.saveourfarm.com

Chester County, PA Residents
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