Most of us have had a work situation that didn’t go well. You and your boss or supervisor didn’t get along. You had some personal or health issues that temporarily affected your performance. You were given an assignment that you lacked the experience or resources to complete successfully. You need to move on to another job. But what do you do about providing a reference?

One thing you absolutely should NOT do is provide an insufficient or bogus reference. In my firm, I’ve seen a number of applicants list work references that were not their former employer. It might be an HR officer, former office mate, sales rep, supplier, or even a customer. Whatever the case, it immediately sends up a red flag. Why doesn’t this candidate want me to talk to their former boss or supervisor? Are there other parts of the resume that won’t hold up under scrutiny?

The purpose of a work reference is to verify performance, not vouch for your character. If the individual who is providing the reference was not responsible for evaluating your performance, then they are of little use to a recruiter. If you are looking for a new job because you did not get along with your boss or supervisor or had a bad review, don’t omit that person as a reference. Instead, explain what happened in your cover letter, so the recruiter will be aware of the situation when they contact them.

Stuff happens. Don’t jeopardize your chances for a better situation by trying cover over something from your past. Let the new employer decide if it matters to them. You’ll at least get a point or two for your integrity.