# Please help with previous thread re ambiguous job recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526 "2006-05-05T13:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526/1 "2006-05-05T13:24:54Z")
A while back there were a couple of posts regarding employers not being able to say bad things about former employees, and someone supplied the most hilarious thing I have seen, it was a generic statement that could be taken to mean the employee was great or worthless. I have scrolled through pages of posts and no luck. I don’t expect anyone to search for me, but if anyone happens to know this off their head and would be kind enough to post, I would be really appreciative- thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526/2 "2006-05-06T01:31:22Z")
Shame filled bump- only b/c I it is driving me batty trying to remember this! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526/3 "2006-05-06T01:35:33Z")
There were a bunch of them. One was: “Any company would be lucky to get this person to work for them.” ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526/4 "2006-05-06T02:00:05Z")
Here it is: [Help me create an ambiguous job reference for a bad worker](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=360120) In that thread I mentioned a book I have that’s chock full of these things, but I couldn’t find it. I’ve since come across it: **Lexicon of Intentionally Ambiguous Recommendations** by Robert J. Thornton Foreword by Richard Lederer Samples: “His résumé is too good to be true.” “I am pleased to say that he is a former colleague of mine.” “He makes those he works with look even better.” ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526/5 "2006-05-06T11:56:10Z")
I once said “If your company is seeking to hire someone like George, then I highly recommend him”. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-with-previous-thread-re-ambiguous-job-recommendations/355526/6 "2006-05-06T21:18:54Z")
Thanks All! it was “I cannot recommend this man too highly. If you can get him to work for you, you will indeed be fortunate.”