Employer refused to give reference letter, no colleague either

[ash_diaz]

Hi, one of my ex employers is refusing to give me a reference letter in the format that CIC is requesting (stating my job duties etc) as I left that company more than 2 years ago. To make matters worse, all of my ex colleagues who I could ask for such a letter have also left that company now. What are my fallback options here ? Could I get a reference letter from an ex colleague (who no longer works there) along with his business card and get it notarized and submit with the below documents ? But it won't be on the company letter head

1. Offer letter
2. Acceptance of resignation
3. Service letter- this states the work that I did although not too extensively
4. Pay slips

anybody who has been in this situation please advice as I'm really worried that this will cause issues. Thanks in advance !!

 

[Varsha Mahant]

Hi,

I was in a similar situation except I had a former colleague. I think there is one more document you may use which I also included in package, when I had applied for the job there was a job advertisement which includes the roles and responsibilities. May be if it helps, but if you don't have that also I am not sure what else you can use to support your application.

Regards

 

[ash_diaz]

Hi,

I was in a similar situation except I had a former colleague. I think there is one more document you may use which I also included in package, when I had applied for the job there was a job advertisement which includes the roles and responsibilities. May be if it helps, but if you don't have that also I am not sure what else you can use to support your application.

Regards

Will a Letter from an ex colleague work ? Although he has left the company now ? I can get his business card and his service letter to prove that he worked at this company, apart from other supporting documents such as my offer letter, service letter etc.

 

[Varsha Mahant]

Ex colleague, not sure but if that's the best you can get after trying everything you should get it, but you should include everything in the letter of explanation clearly that you tried but this was your only option. There is no harm in getting from ex colleague. I would say also include refusal emails from employer to evidence the refusal and you taking the approach of getting letter from ex colleague. My application still in process so I don't even know if the letter from colleague work or not. But i tried everything possible just like you and evidenced everything in LoE. Fingers crossed.

 

[ash_diaz]

Ex colleague, not sure but if that's the best you can get after trying everything you should get it, but you should include everything in the letter of explanation clearly that you tried but this was your only option. There is no harm in getting from ex colleague. I would say also include refusal emails from employer to evidence the refusal and you taking the approach of getting letter from ex colleague. My application still in process so I don't even know if the letter from colleague work or not. But i tried everything possible just like you and evidenced everything in LoE. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for your replies mate! Yeah this is my last resort so I’m gonna have to do this as I have no other option. Yes I do have email refusal from the company HR, I will attach that as well. One more thing, did you get the reference letter from colleague notarized ?

 

[ash_diaz]

Anyone else on this forum who provided ex colleague reference letter and got PR ? would be very comforting to know!!

 

[Varsha Mahant]

Thanks for your replies mate! Yeah this is my last resort so I’m gonna have to do this as I have no other option. Yes I do have email refusal from the company HR, I will attach that as well. One more thing, did you get the reference letter from colleague notarized ?

No worries. No did not get notarized.

 

[seadrag0n]

Anyone else on this forum who provided ex colleague reference letter and got PR ? would be very comforting to know!!

Yes, search for some of the older posts in this forum. If you get a letter from an ex colleague who already left the company, I think they will also ask proof of their employment.

 

[ash_diaz]

Yes, search for some of the older posts in this forum. If you get a letter from an ex colleague who already left the company, I think they will also ask proof of their employment.

He gave me his business card from that company & his Service letter which mentions his position, duration worked etc. would that suffice ?

 

[nsingla09]

Ex colleague, not sure but if that's the best you can get after trying everything you should get it, but you should include everything in the letter of explanation clearly that you tried but this was your only option. There is no harm in getting from ex colleague. I would say also include refusal emails from employer to evidence the refusal and you taking the approach of getting letter from ex colleague. My application still in process so I don't even know if the letter from colleague work or not. But i tried everything possible just like you and evidenced everything in LoE. Fingers crossed.

Hi, Do you mind sharing update if your application got approved ? any ADR ?