Why Employees Won't Recommend People For Jobs in Their Companies

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 18, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

What is it that makes a person truly unemployable?

There is an argument to be made that getting a job comes down to attitude and making the right impression on the interviewer, irrespective of how many relevant skills you have on your resume. However, this is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to the journey from submitting an application to starting your first day. A lot of things have to go right behind the scenes for you to be the top candidate.

At the end of the day, we can endlessly optimize our cover letters, boost those employable skills, and practice all the interview answers in the world, but if somebody who has a say on whether we get hired or not doesn't like us, we are going to be out of a job. Some of this is our own fault, and some is just the luck of the draw. It can sometimes feel baffling to ace several rounds of interviews only to get a rejection email, but it happens all the time in the current job market. You never know what deciding factors may have turned a hiring manager against you, no matter how impressive you thought you were.

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  • A woman's hand flicking through a resume on a clipboard while holding a pen
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A woman's hand flicking through a resume on a clipboard while holding a pen

  • One thing it is important not to sleep on is the people who are asked to recommend or referee you. If they have seen your bad side or simply do not like you for one reason or another, they may have the clout to keep you from taking a position. We are always told that who we know is one of the most vital parts of the job hunt, and this is also true in the negative sense. When we have not been giving off a good impression in another job or even in other areas of our lives, things won't go as well with those who are supposed to champion our professionalism. Managers and employees shared the reasons that they stopped someone they know from getting a job, and the answers seem to have a theme.

  • Have you ever secretly blocked the hiring of someone?

    Have you ever had a job where you secretly or obviously prevented someone from being hired because you knew something the higher ups didn't?
    via besttavern25
  • My example is I once worked with a guy named Dan in the engineering field. Dan and I used to work together at a different firm but Dan was known to goof off and often made his projects more difficult than other engineers. This is because Dan eventually left the firm and those that picked up his projects had a very hard time figuring out his designs and setup.
    via besttavern25
  • Fast forward, I'm at my new firm and Dan is interviewing. My area manager asks me for my opinion since he saw on his resume that we worked together previously. I told him my blunt and honest opinion and Dan was never offered a job. Can't confirm if this was directly because of me but I have a hunch. Any other similar experiences?
    via besttavern25
  • The back of a hiring manager writing notes as an interviewee clasps their hands on a clipboard in front of them
    via Ahmet Kurt (Unsplash+)

    The back of a hiring manager writing notes as an interviewee clasps their hands on a clipboard in front of them

  • Tight Steak_232 My boss asked me to write a letter of recommendation to a local Woman of the Year contest on her behalf. It was confidential. I was truthful, and she didn't get in. She had six people write her references. I always wonder if I was the only bad review. "Jane always hires those who are rejected by
    via Tight_Steak_232
  • everyone else, whether due to criminal records, or dis ility, or no experience. This way, she knows they won't leave if they hate how she treats them as if they don't count."
    via Tight_Steak_232
  • VagabondTexan Heck yes. I'm in the airlines, and there are a number of occurrences where I and one or more colleagues have actively worked to prevent a hiring. We are stuck together in a cubicle (cockpit) for hours on end, so being able to play well with others is huge. Also,
    via VagabondTexan
  • this industry, as big as it is, is only maybe two degrees of separation. As I tell people new to it, you don't have to make friends, but for God's sake, don't make enemies. References are so important that all it takes is a few quiet phone calls to the right people.
    via VagabondTexan
  • Val-E-Girl Yes! Someone marked me down as a reference without askine me first (probably a good thing) when they applied to a company I was working at. When asked, I said "Yes, I worked with this person and No, I will not put my reputation on the line to recommend her." That was enough said. She didn't get an interview.
    via Val-E-Girl
  • A woman's hand flicking through a resume on a clipboard as somebody sits opposite them
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A woman's hand flicking through a resume on a clipboard as somebody sits opposite them

  • Automatic_Tea_2550 I have quietly objected to hiring the soon-to-be ex-spouse of a current employee. What reasonable person would think that's a good idea? It helped that the interview was awful and the candidate appeared to feel entitled to the job, so I didn't need to push too hard on that one.
    via Automatic_Tea_2550
  • Thermitegrenade Yes...got called for a reference on someone who was horrible. I said "I've heard that I can get in trouble for giving negative feedback on a former employee, so I can confirm they worked here"...they said "I understand...THANK you..."
    via Thermitegrenade
  • xl129 Yeah, the HR Director in my previous company literally accept bribe for various positions. Years later in a different company, my HR asked me for reference and I told them the story with zero hesitation, imagine person like that become your HR Directorz
    via xl129
  • chickenandrice4ever Yes, an ex friend tried to apply at my place of employment, knowing that I worked there. I told my manager that it was his decision but I would not be working on days she was there. I was their top sales rep, they chose to keep me
    via chickenandrice4ever
  • rufireproof3d Kinda. I once advised a girl I absolutely did not want to work with to wear something Green Bay Packers related to an interview. Her interviewer was a di hard Bears fan who hated the Packers.
    via rufireproof3d
  • catBoyAppreciater Several times. Once for very petty reasons (he was my middle school bu y with a sadly-for-him unique name), several other times for professional ones.
    via catBoyAppreciater
  • Electrical_Report458 The applicant had had an affair with one of his subordinates. Both parties were married. I mentioned this to someone involved in the hiring process. The candidate did not move forward in the process.
    via Electrical_Report458
  • BlackberryOk5347 Nope, but I gave a reference that said, "Yes, I worked with them, but I don't really have anything I want to say about them as a reference." They didn't get hired, and I felt justice was served.
    via BlackberryOk5347
  • Puzzled Actuator7476 I had someone apply to my workplace a few years ago that I know. When I heard, I told them that they would be wasting their time as this individual doesn't stay in one job for very long. They decided to hire him and I think a month in he quit.
    via Puzzled_Actuator7476

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