Lifescripts, 3rd Edition

39Asking Your Supervisor for a Job Recommendation

STRATEGY

Asking your current supervisor for a job recommendation can be extremely dangerous. Make sure that a job offer is assured from the company that seeks this recommendation, because the moment you tell your supervisor you're a candidate for another job, they mentally start replacing you. And at the same time, they may be able to sabotage your future position. The objective of this script is to minimize their anger at you and ensure they'll put in a good word—or at least won't put in a bad word—with your future employer.

TACTICS

• Attitude: Don't look on this as asking for a favor or help. That makes it seem a big deal and gives them more of an opportunity to withhold their recommendation. You're simply asking for a professional courtesy—that's very difficult to withhold. Also, if they seem remote, you want nothing but the truth. Be aware that employers must be very careful about what they say about you since you could sue them if you don't get the job because of something they say or don't say.
• Preparation: Before having this conversation, you need to be able to put your finger on an inarguable reason for taking the job—something the new job offers that your current job can never provide. You also need to be prepared to say how long you'll be able to stick around.
• Timing: Due to the danger involved in this script you need to wait until you're sure the only remaining hurdle to your getting the new job is a positive reference ...