changing jobs after 3 months - need new references?

[celle507]

To those of you who found it difficult to find your niche after graduation and switched jobs a lot during the first year, how did you deal with the reference situation?

I asked 3 people to be my references in December while I was looking for a job and they all said yes. So, I landed the hospital job but did not like it so I am looking for jobs again and have several interviews lined up.

Do I need to re-ask them again if I can use them to be my references or is the time period short enough (4-5 months) that they probably understand that I could still be looking for work and I can still count on them to be my job reference.. I don't have a reference from my hospital job.

Also, what about a former supervisor who states that "you can always use me to be your reference" and he is very positive about my work and really means it. does that mean that i can use him anytime without continuously asking him again and again?

Thanks for any help!!

[peanuts75]

I quit my first job (med-surg) after 4 months and re-asked two professors for references. I had no choice, because the hospital I was applying to wanted a reference form to be filled out for each reference. Also asked the assistant NM at my old job for a reference. She gave me average reviews on everything but attendance/punctuality. I got above average on that one.

IMHO, it doesn't hurt to pay your nursing professors a visit, explain to them why you are looking for a new job, and ask them for a reference. Mine were all very supportive. Who knows, you might even get some job leads.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Whenever you are going job-hunting you should always contact people you want to use for references first and let them know that you are job hunting and ask if it will be OK for you to use them as a reference. That's just good etiquette. With only three months at your first job I would go back to at least one, if not two of your nursing school instructors to use as references. You will need to have an explanation for why you are leaving a new job after only 3 months. No matter how bad your experience has been you really need to try to put it in as positive a way as possible without sounding like your last employer was the worst scum of the earth or that you were a failure. This will be a very delicate thing to pull off. Most employers will usually want a reference from some sort of a supervisor or manager from your last place of employment so pick this person carefully. I've been interviewing and hiring for years. It's not only what a person has to say about you, but what they don't say as well that is going to be considered.