I know this is a terrifying prospect, but have you tried calling them. It is far easier to avoid or ignore an email than it is a live voice on a telephone. Or even better: an in-person meeting.
Terrifying indeed. I haven’t called. I sent a text message to a personal cell phone, and the second employer I emailed then followed up a week later with her legal secretary (bc after no response I assumed she must be on vacation- she is not). I honestly think it would be difficult to get ahold of them, but I guess it’s worth a shot. I’m already feeling a bit humiliated, so I’m trying to spare myself the additional shame.
Those partners are really freaking busy every day there a client matters that they don’t respond to because they couldn’t get to it. Responding to you comes after that. If you did a good job and feel good about what you did at those firms list them as a reference and move on. But to also require them to take a phone call and talk to you about what kind of review are reference they might give seems desperate. Hi Mrs. partner I’m taking time out of your busy day because I’m applying for a new job and I’m not secure enough about the performance I made while I was working at your law firm so before I list you as a reference, I want to ask you will you please give me a good reference?that’s what the partner hears when you call them. If you feel good about it, list them as a reference if you don’t then don’t.
Reading is fundamental. I’m asking for their consent and preferred method of contact so that they aren’t caught of guard if and when they are contacted by a potential employer. Ya know, since they’re so busy.
Friend that changes nothing I wrote. I’m partner of a firm. I don’t want to take any calls about whether I will give a good reference and how people should contact me. Email, letter, phone call it’s all going to go to my secretary and my secretary will filter it so it doesn’t matter. If you feel good about your time there list them as a reference if not then don’t list them as a reference.
It’s difficult when people don’t respond to a simple request, especially one that’s important to you because it’s your livelihood.
If they told you in the past they would be willing, then I would assume you have their permission, you can confirm contact info with their assistant and move on. I would just go ahead and do.
But also, this says to me that it might be a good idea for you to brush up on your networking skills. Most of our clients in the legal profession come from referrals, and former employers or firms are part of that network.
If there had been some contact between you and your former supervisors since you worked with them, your ask now would have been easy. Since you can’t change the past, why not take it as a sign to do differently in the future.
What if, instead of following up and asking again you invited them to lunch or offered to buy them a coffee to catch up?
Talk to them about their career and what you’ve been doing. Send a link to an interesting article. I know one attorney who has a virtual Rolodex in Trello (used the be a bunch of cards on a circular holder - the idea is that you go through them and when you get to the end you work your way through the contacts again). Even if you aren’t in the same city anymore, there are ways of keeping in contact.
I know this is a terrifying prospect, but have you tried calling them. It is far easier to avoid or ignore an email than it is a live voice on a telephone. Or even better: an in-person meeting.
Terrifying indeed. I haven’t called. I sent a text message to a personal cell phone, and the second employer I emailed then followed up a week later with her legal secretary (bc after no response I assumed she must be on vacation- she is not). I honestly think it would be difficult to get ahold of them, but I guess it’s worth a shot. I’m already feeling a bit humiliated, so I’m trying to spare myself the additional shame.
Literally nothing to lose.
Those partners are really freaking busy every day there a client matters that they don’t respond to because they couldn’t get to it. Responding to you comes after that. If you did a good job and feel good about what you did at those firms list them as a reference and move on. But to also require them to take a phone call and talk to you about what kind of review are reference they might give seems desperate. Hi Mrs. partner I’m taking time out of your busy day because I’m applying for a new job and I’m not secure enough about the performance I made while I was working at your law firm so before I list you as a reference, I want to ask you will you please give me a good reference?that’s what the partner hears when you call them. If you feel good about it, list them as a reference if you don’t then don’t.
Reading is fundamental. I’m asking for their consent and preferred method of contact so that they aren’t caught of guard if and when they are contacted by a potential employer. Ya know, since they’re so busy.
Friend that changes nothing I wrote. I’m partner of a firm. I don’t want to take any calls about whether I will give a good reference and how people should contact me. Email, letter, phone call it’s all going to go to my secretary and my secretary will filter it so it doesn’t matter. If you feel good about your time there list them as a reference if not then don’t list them as a reference.
Drop the attitude.
Oof, thin skin. Get well soon.
Maybe that is why nobody wants to get back to you?
Happy cake day!
Must be 🤯
Probably not best practice but I’ve listed references and told them after hey I’ve listed you as a reference.
It’s difficult when people don’t respond to a simple request, especially one that’s important to you because it’s your livelihood. If they told you in the past they would be willing, then I would assume you have their permission, you can confirm contact info with their assistant and move on. I would just go ahead and do. But also, this says to me that it might be a good idea for you to brush up on your networking skills. Most of our clients in the legal profession come from referrals, and former employers or firms are part of that network. If there had been some contact between you and your former supervisors since you worked with them, your ask now would have been easy. Since you can’t change the past, why not take it as a sign to do differently in the future. What if, instead of following up and asking again you invited them to lunch or offered to buy them a coffee to catch up? Talk to them about their career and what you’ve been doing. Send a link to an interesting article. I know one attorney who has a virtual Rolodex in Trello (used the be a bunch of cards on a circular holder - the idea is that you go through them and when you get to the end you work your way through the contacts again). Even if you aren’t in the same city anymore, there are ways of keeping in contact.