Bad reference letter - advice needed

[Lucienne]

I have a job interview tomorrow for a sommelier job that I'm really interested in. I've been bugging my boss to write me a reference letter for over a month and I finally got it today.

The whole thing looks pretty awful. There are two different fonts, part of it is pasted in and uses the pronoun "he" all through that passage. I got a scanned copy which isn't even straight. I might be able to pick up the original at work tomorrow, but I'm not sure it's worth it.

My question is, what do I do? Do I give them the poorly written letter or do I just lie and tell them I haven't gotten any and use other references instead of my boss?

[hey]

Obviously your boss was trying to prevent you from getting the job.

[NynJa]

Use it to your advantage lol..."my current (and you have to put emphasis on current) boss gave me this garbage reference letter in hopes you wont hire me so I keep working under him/her, what does that tell you about my work ethic". Try to get another reference letter from a previous employer as well.

[Nynaeve]

I think that letter reflects more poorly on your boss than you. Wow.

[Valisk]

If the information in the reference letter is helpful, then turn it into a positive. Give the interviewer a disclaimer that your boss was reluctant to write the letter because he didn't want to lose an incredible employee and asset. If you're feeling bold (and possibly arrogant), mention that you feel your current boss didn't put much effort into it in an attempt to sabotage your departure from the company.

[Lucienne]

I think that letter reflects more poorly on your boss than you. Wow.

Yeah, but after all I've worked in that place and still do.
The interview is at a really fancy place and I don't want that to effect me in a negative way.

[alt]

Are they specifically asking for references? Usually you do not want to give references until specifically asked. And then usually only after a specific offer has been made pending your reference check. So you may have more time to get another letter.

[Clash Perez]

Speaking in a negative manner about one's current/previous bosses or co-workers is rarely a good thing in an interview.

Personally, I'd skip the letter entirely.

[Lucienne]

If the information in the reference letter is helpful, then turn it into a positive. Give the interviewer a disclaimer that your boss was reluctant to write the letter because he didn't want to lose an incredible employee and asset. If you're feeling bold (and possibly arrogant), mention that you feel your current boss didn't put much effort into it in an attempt to sabotage your departure from the company.

I'm not sure, honestly. It says I'm loyal, flexible and responsible, that I follow instructions, but am capable of constructive criticism. That they'd recommend me to a similar position.

It's very short and basic, and I'm not sure about the criticism part. Rest is the pasted in section.

I have wonderful letters from my teacher positions, but this is the only one I have from a restaurant.

Are they specifically asking for references? Usually you do not want to give references until specifically asked. And then usually only after a specific offer has been made pending your reference check. So you may have more time to get another letter.

You're generally expected to bring them for the interview in Sweden. It's going to look bad if I don't have them.

[Byrd]

Sounds like your boss was probably just too busy to make it happen, and he's probably aware it looks like shit. Ask your boss if you can rewrite the letter so it looks more professional (although don't put it in those terms, address specifics like the different font and the pronouns). If you rework the letter without changing any words (other than a "he" to a "she" or other similar factual errors), then all he has to do is sign it, that takes all the work off of him and allows you to have a more professional looking letter.

[alt]

You're generally expected to bring them for the interview in Sweden. It's going to look bad if I don't have them.

Oh, dang. Hmmm, in that case i'd just bring your bosses reference in, and just say something to the effect of "here's my bosses reference, I apologize for the formatting as it was scanned in and sent to me"

But if there's time and you have a good enough relationship with him, I agree i'd try to get him to rewrite it.

[NynJa]

Speaking in a negative manner about one's current/previous bosses or co-workers is rarely a good thing in an interview.

Personally, I'd skip the letter entirely.

How is that really speaking negatively? What can you really comment in a positive light when their idea of a reference letter is a cut and paste job?

[Lucienne]

Doesn't help I haven't gotten my certificates yet, so all I can show them are emails from my sommelier school, and I lost my voice, so I sound like a lifelong smoker.

[Lucienne]

Sounds like your boss was probably just too busy to make it happen, and he's probably aware it looks like shit. Ask your boss if you can rewrite the letter so it looks more professional (although don't put it in those terms, address specifics like the different font and the pronouns). If you rework the letter without changing any words (other than a "he" to a "she" or other similar factual errors), then all he has to do is sign it, that takes all the work off of him and allows you to have a more professional looking letter.

I'd do this if the interview wasn't tomorrow. He has been busy for a month and a half now. I don't think that's justifiable honestly. If he has time to go on skiing vacation he should have time to take care of his work duties.

I'm going to ask him to give me one with proper pronouns after tomorrow though. Unless I get the job obviously.

[Clash Perez]

How is that really speaking negatively? What can you really comment in a positive light when their idea of a reference letter is a cut and paste job?

The part about portraying the boss as putting forward poorly-prepared references to intentionally represent her in a less positive light (however true it may be) is a fairly negative statement.

Lucienne, would you be able to re-type and re-format the letter and swing by and have your current boss sign it, or is it on a company letterhead or something like that? I obviously don't know anything about the relationship between you and your current boss, but it should only take a moment to show that you haven't made any sweeping changes and to get a fresh signature. Hopefully he would be open to that sort of thing.

Edit: herp, the same thing had just been suggested.

[Byrd]

I'd do this if the interview wasn't tomorrow. He has been busy for a month and a half now. I don't think that's justifiable honestly. If he has time to go on skiing vacation he should have time to take care of his work duties.

It may not be justifiable for him to slack, but at this point, it has an effect on your future; you can be annoyed at your current boss for not following through with his job duties and not have a presentable letter tomorrow, or you can take active steps to try to improve what he wasn't willing to take the time to give you. You make it sound like this letter is important; you can certainly make the time to rewrite the (presumably) short letter and then put it in front of him to sign it. If you're not going to see him between now and then, just leave the signature off but leave his name and contact information in print for them to get a hold of him to verify the information. Just confirm with him prior to submission that this is acceptable. If he's anything like any boss I've ever had, they'll be relieved that you're doing the leg work, and all he has to do is sign it.

Having both written and requested letters of recommendation, they are no fun to write and no fun to pester others to write. You want to say positive things about the person without sounding overly positive, and if anything they write is remotely negative, they have to worry about getting sued.

[Acturus]

So, have we determined that shitty boss was intentionally shitty, or just that this boss can't write a letter to save his life?

If you feel you can confront your boss about it, I say do so. You have every right to ask to have it fixed, because it is a reflection on you, regardless of who wrote it.

*edit* OR! If you're cool with rewriting it yourself, do so, and then just bring it to your boss for signature with one of those "hey, great letter. I saw a couple of typos and I didn't want them to overshadow your hard work on my behalf (or some bullshit). So, I fixed them, here sign this."

[Vandalhart]

Nevermind, already been posted twice.

[Lucienne]

It may not be justifiable for him to slack, but at this point, it has an effect on your future; you can be annoyed at your current boss for not following through with his job duties and not have a presentable letter tomorrow, or you can take active steps to try to improve what he wasn't willing to take the time to give you. You make it sound like this letter is important; you can certainly make the time to rewrite the (presumably) short letter and then put it in front of him to sign it. If you're not going to see him between now and then, just leave the signature off but leave his name and contact information in print for them to get a hold of him to verify the information. Just confirm with him prior to submission that this is acceptable. If he's anything like any boss I've ever had, they'll be relieved that you're doing the leg work, and all he has to do is sign it.

Having both written and requested letters of recommendation, they are no fun to write and no fun to pester others to write. You want to say positive things about the person without sounding overly positive, and if anything they write is remotely negative, they have to worry about getting sued.

It's 7.30 pm here, the interview is 3 hours away from where I live tomorrow. My boss isn't even at the restaurant where i work every day, so the chance I'll get hold of him between now and then is minimal and as someone pointed out, it was written on a paper with a company logo.

I can get all the rewriting done in a few days, but I just don't see it realistically happening till tomorrow morning.

I think I'm just going to hope they won't ask for it.

[Acturus]

There's always the option of saying at the interview if they do ask for it "I have one from my current manager, and I'll show it to you if you want, but I'm not comfortable with how it was formatted and I would like the opportunity to follow up with my manager first. Can I mail it over in a few days?"