I have now been "fooled" twice by potential employers. I get to the third round of interviews for my first NP job and then either HR and or the Nurse manager has told me that they will not be interviewing anyone else for the position, or they think i'd be a great fit because of this that and the other etc. Then they ask for my references/nurse manager name and information. I've naively bought it, twice, and have given my references and notified my manager at my RN job that i'd be taking an NP position. Then a week or so passes, I get curious what is taking so long, and contact the HR person who tells me they haven't checked references but instead are opening up the position to others more qualified. Not only am I not getting the job, but I'm then backpeddling appologizing to my boss. Ughhhhh.
What should I be doing next time? Getting the offer in writing before I agree to give my contacts? Do I tell the next HR/manager why I need it in writing and my history? Anyone with similar experiences?
Alicia, I strongly feel that your references are the problem. I also think that if your resume indicates where you work, they can still call your current manager and ask about you even if you did not list her for reference. I remember getting a job in the past without my references being called. When the new DON called me to her office to offer me the job, she told me she heard very good things about me from my former DON (oops!!!). I had however made it a point to write my old DON a very nice resignation letter and praising her for always doing her job well. References are everything. In a more recent situation, I always made it a point to be nice to everyone including the bosses in my former job. When I started a new job, I was in the process of applying to graduate school and didn't know anyone in my new job. My former bosses came through for me. This advice goes out to all those in school right now and planning got go further with your education. ALWAYS ALWAYS make yourself stand out in class so that your professors can remember you when you finally approach them for references. Those recommendation letters have a lot of weight. The recommenders wouldn't want to lie about you if they don't know you well enough. Not everyone who smiles at you likes you or wants the best for you. Also don't be suddenly nice just coz you need help. Be consistently the good nurse you are and character alone will take you places you never thought possible. Good luck Alicia....I strongly advice you to change all your references. This happened to a family member who kept on using his old employer for references and he ended up jobless for almost two years until he changed his references. And just like you, the jobs he interviewed for seemed to be his until the last minute, then they fell through.
Yes, yes and yes! I have been in same position- offered (and accepted!) a job, only to find it all fall through. No explanation, but job offer gone. Whew, I will always get offer, salary and start date in writing. Period. I also taught both clinical and theory 10 years and have been asked for countless references by my students. I made it a point to give the student a copy of the reference- 1 for their records and 1 sealed/signed for their potential employer. If I couldn't give an acceptable or exceptional reference, I would inform the student and defer to them if they'd like to ask another professor. Been on both sides and know importance of honest communication.
One time I marked the box "Do not contact" and found out later, that they indeed, called that employer despite my request. Another time, a former manager backstabbed me by telling me to my face that he would provide a good reference and then, doing the opposite. I was hired for a position, then was told that the hiring action was reversed after speaking to this "positive" reference. I never would have known what had happened had the potential employer not clued me in. Frankly, even though I am not new to the world of work, it had never occurred to me that someone would promise a good reference and then wholeheartedly blacklist me. That was a lesson. Do your best to preclude bad references, but don't be surprised if you find out that underhanded things are going on behind your back.
As someone who hires, I can say I will call the resent employer even if it is not on the reference list, the most they can say is if you are a rehire. The personal references will give me more character information. If someone gives me a bunch of negative information, I personally question this and will call more people for added information. If a former employee says they would rehire (good sign), then I will talk to a couple for something more personal related to character. If a previous employer says they would not rehire, they legally can not tell me why, so I will call additional previous employers, usually HR to tell me if the person is re-hirable.
If an applicant asked me to not call their current employer, I would ALWAYS honor that. I do however then ask them about their plans for transition if they should be offered a job and why they are not choosing to let their current employer know about a potential move in the near future.
Sometimes, people have a valid reason for not wanting to notify their current employer. Sometimes, they just are afraid to let their employer know because of fear of retribution. I would suggest that if you are going to call their current employer even if they requested you not to, you let them know and ask if they wish to withdrawal their application instead, or want time to notify their current employer of the up coming call in advance.
Just to be clear I do not call the supervisor, if the applicant asks them not to be contacted. I call the HR department for rehire information, where the information is suppose to stay confidential. For legality reasons you would have to ask the person if they would like to tell you about their plans for transition, some of those type questions teeter on those the edge of being able to ask during interviews unless the interviewee offers the information.
This might be a dumb question, but, is it ok not to put references on resume/cv and provide them later. Thank you.
This is not a dumb question, you can put references available upon request, however some facilities will not process your application without references so it depends upon the facility.
2015
140 Posts
Alicia, I strongly feel that your references are the problem. I also think that if your resume indicates where you work, they can still call your current manager and ask about you even if you did not list her for reference. I remember getting a job in the past without my references being called. When the new DON called me to her office to offer me the job, she told me she heard very good things about me from my former DON (oops!!!). I had however made it a point to write my old DON a very nice resignation letter and praising her for always doing her job well. References are everything. In a more recent situation, I always made it a point to be nice to everyone including the bosses in my former job. When I started a new job, I was in the process of applying to graduate school and didn't know anyone in my new job. My former bosses came through for me. This advice goes out to all those in school right now and planning got go further with your education. ALWAYS ALWAYS make yourself stand out in class so that your professors can remember you when you finally approach them for references. Those recommendation letters have a lot of weight. The recommenders wouldn't want to lie about you if they don't know you well enough. Not everyone who smiles at you likes you or wants the best for you. Also don't be suddenly nice just coz you need help. Be consistently the good nurse you are and character alone will take you places you never thought possible. Good luck Alicia....I strongly advice you to change all your references. This happened to a family member who kept on using his old employer for references and he ended up jobless for almost two years until he changed his references. And just like you, the jobs he interviewed for seemed to be his until the last minute, then they fell through.