“I have been in the same job for a year but I am being bullied and feel I should be looking for something else. I have skipped from job to job different times because I was not getting enough hours. I would never say I had a career, but at 47 it can get a little tough even if I have lots of energy. I am being discredited and am not be able to be at my full potential because this job was very misrepresented to me. When looking for other work how do I handle my previous employer as a reference? My supervisor is not supposed to give out references, but rather to refer questions to Human Resources. However, that does not stop a prospective employer from speaking with her. She is a very up and down person. What do I do? I do not want to be in an interview and become defensive.”

Moving from job to job takes a lot of energy at any age. Beyond the time and expense of creating résumés, attending interviews, and lost income it can be taxing in terms of your self-confidence and establishing new routines and relationships with new coworkers. Being clear about what it is you expect from a job and what you are willing to put up with is of utmost importance. If you haven’t done so already, I would suggest taking the time to do some career exploration and figure out what kind of job would be best for you BEFORE you make your next move.

When jobs are misrepresented it is often about miscommunication. Either the company or the employee was unclear about what their needs really were. While it is important to keep an open mind and be flexible, it is equally important to set out clear expectations from the beginning.

Since you’ve had to change jobs frequently, the first place to address this is in your résumé. If you haven’t already done so, you may want to restructure your résumé to a functional format that highlights your skills and experiences rather than an erratic work pattern. In the functional format, accomplishments are listed together for greater impact and the dates could be left off so you have the opportunity to explain the frequent job changes in your interview rather than being screened out in the résumé selection. As you know, after your interview you will be expected to provide references.

References and reference checks are an important part of the job search. Many employers use them to confirm impressions they have already made of you. These references can make or break your chances of employment success. Having said that, if an employer is taking the time to check your references chances are they’ve already formed a positive impression and are looking for a second opinion to confirm.

It is important to carefully select your references and be sure you know what you can expect them to say. If you are concerned about what a previous employer may say about you in a reference check, do not use that person as a reference. If you feel your potential employer may have something negative to say, explain to the interviewer before they call the person why you feel that way and what you have done to overcome those particular challenges since the time you worked for that boss.

In terms of handling a reference from a person who is “up and down”, I would suggest you try to catch her on an “up day” and ask her to write you a reference letter rather than be contacted directly. Alternatively, don’t use her as a reference and explain to the potential employer that you feel uncomfortable using this person as a reference and be sure to supply alternate people they can contact.

No matter who you choose as a reference, be sure to contact that person before using his or her name and discuss some of the specific things that came up in your work together. A useful way to format your list of references is to list the specific skills the supervisor had the opportunity to observe. That way, when a potential employer calls a previous employer for a reference check you maintain some control over what they discuss.

For example:

Ms. Jane Smith
Managing Director
XYZ Corporation

Ms. Smith was my direct supervisor from January 19XX to 20XX. During the time we worked together, Ms. Smith had the opportunity to observe my project management and delegation skills.

Chances are, when a potential employer calls for the reference check the skills and experiences you included will be among the first topics of conversation. This starts you out on the right foot and will leave a lasting impression with your next boss.

To submit a question for a future column, please e-mail it to careercoach@charityvillage.com. No identifying information will appear in this column.

Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.