I have just finished my PhD and recently had a Lecturer interview. This went very well and I've got a strong academic background (1st class Hons). However, I didn't get the job! I got some feedback in the pub from one of the junior academics on the panel and was told that the reason was I got a bad referece from one of my supervisors. I am shocked as I did not have any problems during my doctral studies. This is so back-stabbing!! Any advice, similar experiences?

Well that sounds awful, but to be honest how well can you trust the junior academic who was on the interview panel. If your references were taken up before the interview and one was bad, then surely they wouldn't have invited you for an interview. If you believe that this person is correct however-then I would try to speak to your supervisor directly, because this is going to affect all your future applications.

Thanks. The person on the interview panel is a family friend and I would trust his feedback. This leaves me in a tricky situation about speaking to my supervisor. Do you think I may now be regarded as a competitor and pose a threat to their research? This is pretty pathetic and leaves me in a difficult dilemma!

You have the right to sue if you have been given an unfair reference - but just don't use that supervisor again unless it's your director of studies.

you can see your references using the data protection act providing you did not sign away this right.