Re: FWD: What to do about a recommendation?

["Dana Worley" <dana -at- campbellsci -dot- com>]

On Tuesday, October 24, 2006, Bryan Sherman wrote: 

> imho, the "right" thing to do is explain why you cannot give them a
> reference.

I agree.

I once worked with someone who was asked to submit a letter of 
resignation because of performance issues. A few months down the 
road, he called to tell me he was applying for a tech writing job (not 
his duties here), and he asked if I would act as a reference. 

It was a very uncomfortable situation (thankfully, it was a phone 
call), but I had to tell him that I would not feel comfortable acting as 
a reference and I told him why. I then went on to tell him that I *did* 
think he did an excellent job when training customers (because, he 
was a good teacher). 

If you don't tell the truth up front, the person may "needle" you until 
you are forced to tell them in the end. At that point, he person knows 
you were not forthcoming, and I think that's even a worse situation.

2 cents,

Dana W.



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