Reputation and the perils of "dressing for export"

30 July 2016

This week I had a lovely message from one of my talented former staff members who had just completed her first day in a new job.

She was fizzing with energy and enthusiasm. She wanted to thank me for the reference check. The recruiter had said it was one of the best reference checks she’d completed.

I take my role as a referee very seriously because I believe that the reputation of the referee is on the line as is the reputation of the person being reference checked. If the referee gilds the lily and oversells the skills, experience and approach of the job candidate then that has implications down the line for all concerned.

In one of my former workplaces which had a very large internal market they had a saying about how to move difficult staff members on to other managers. That saying was “dressed for export,” deriving from the old meat processing days of the 1950s and 60s when lamb carcasses would be packaged up and frozen for despatch far, far away.

“Dressing for export” often said as much about the attitude and competence of the manager utilising the practice than the individual being moved on.

I make it clear to anyone who wants to use me as a referee that I will give fair and truthful answers to the inquirers questions and if I am asked whether I am happy for the individual to see the notes of the interview I say yes.

One of the greatest rewards of management is to see colleagues you work with go on to do greater things elsewhere. It lifts everyone’s spirits in a world badly in need of positive news.