It's what's between the lines that counts

@JudyEv (381813)
Rockingham, Australia
June 22, 2025 2:32am CST
In another life, we were partners in a farm machinery business. At one stage, they took on a young mechanic but soon found he was more of a liability than an asset. They gave him six months notice, citing there wouldn’t be enough work coming in to keep him on. When our partner saw the reference, he was surprised at some of the terms. Vince had said mechanic was reliable, punctual and aimed to please. He explained these to his partner by saying the young man could be relied on to stuff up every job he was given; he was punctual in that he was regularly ten minutes late to work and always knocked off early so you couldn’t deny he was punctual and he always aimed to please although he never quite managed to hit the mark.
21 people like this
16 responses
snowy
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
22 Jun
Somebody else undoubtedly got stuck with him.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
He was costing the company money as his work was substandard.
3 people like this
Arunima Singh
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
22 Jun
Nice of Vince to notice the positive traits. It doesn't seem like an attitude problem there, he just might be slow to pick up. I hope that he is doing well wherever he is.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
They had a lot of return work from jobs where he hadn't done work properly. He was starting to cost the company too much money. I know he got another job quickly so I hope he did okay.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
@arunima25 Hopefully he found a niche for himself.
2 people like this
Arunima Singh
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jun
@JudyEv Hmm...businesses can't keep up with such employees. I just hope that he could get things better in his next job.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174222)
• United States
22 Jun
That's an interesting reference... I hope the young man learned to do better at one of his later jobs.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
Maybe he just needed more experience but any work he did mostly came back to the workshop because it wasn't done properly.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174222)
• United States
22 Jun
@JudyEv That's always possible.
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (156249)
• Philippines
23 Jun
Vince clearly had a sharp sense of humor, and a way with words. It’s funny how a reference can sound glowing on the surface, but with the right context, it tells a very different story.
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (156249)
• Philippines
26 Jun
@JudyEv Good on Vince for standing his ground. Offering honesty instead of covering up bad behavior shows real integrity. Actions have consequences, and sometimes the truth is the best reference of all.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
He had to tell one guy that he could either resign or be sacked after he continually bullied another worker. The guy asked for a reference. Vince said he could have one but he (Vince) would be telling the truth. The guy left without a reference.
2 people like this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
22 Jun
I think I would have just verified dates of employment and not said anything else.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
Fair enough.
2 people like this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (33873)
•
22 Jun
Lol Sarcasm at it's very cutting finest.. I love it
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
Vince is very good at not telling lies but you do have to read between the lines sometimes.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun
@Ineeddentures Yes, I've heard that phrase before too. Our younger son was pretty good at that.
1 person likes this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (33873)
•
26 Jun
@JudyEv Economical with the truth is the worst I think I am and only slightly
2 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
22 Jun
Workers are a class by themselves - a mystery I am going through that just now
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
That's a fair comment that workers are a class by themselves.
2 people like this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
22 Jun
Hopefully the mechanic got along to another company and eventually learned that there is more to his job then turning a wrench to be successful.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
Probably the main factor was that he wasn't a very good mechanic. Jobs often came back as unsatisfactory.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
22 Jun
Vince was nice to try to help that boy, of course it did not really help those who needed a worker.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
22 Jun
@JudyEv I fully agree with you, it's sad not to give another opportunity to someone.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
The reference enabled him to get another job so it was probably better than a more brutal reference.
2 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Jun
People like that often cost companies unnecessary costs due to substandard work
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
Every job he undertook came back to be done again.
2 people like this
Shiva
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
22 Jun
Attitude matters more when we are young and learning the ropes. Once we are on a firm footing, things will become easier. I recall learning the hard way and putting all the effort needed to lay the foundation for a secure future.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
It's a tough road sometimes for young workers. There is a lot to learn, not ust about the work, but about relationships with others.
2 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21504)
• London, England
23 Jun
See what I mean!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
2 people like this
Jim Bauer
@porwest (112717)
• United States
22 Jun
I tend to believe in "survival of the fittest." Let people succeed and fail on their own times. It's their turn always to shine. If they are dim lights, it's on them. lol
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
That's fair enough. You can't afford to keep someone on who is costing you money. Every job this guy did was brought back for one reason or another.
2 people like this
Jim Bauer
@porwest (112717)
• United States
22 Jun
@JudyEv Yeah. Look, at the end of the day, the purpose of business is not to employ people. Employing people is simply a byproduct of successful business. The main purpose of business is to make money, and in order to do that, you need CAPABLE people, not just people who get paid.
2 people like this
Aparna Sen
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
22 Jun
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun
Thankfully, he was able to get another job quite quickly.
2 people like this
popciclecold
@popciclecold (40215)
• United States
22 Jun
Sounds like he's in the wrong business.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
The young man? I think so.
1 person likes this
Vicki, #1 Creek Girl
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
23 Jun
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381813)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun
Glad you got a laugh out of it.
2 people like this