I am a RN who has been working at a telemetry floor for a year, and I am planning to change my specialty. So I have been job hunting recently.
Where I want to work most doesn't require but it is optional to attach a reference page in job application process. Honestly, I have about no references to give. I want to have some though. I have a friend from nursing school who we told each other we could use each other as references, but it's been a year after graduation; she's living and working in a different state, so I don't even know it would count to still list her as a reference.
Hence, I have a few questions regarding this:
1. Does having references significantly impact the chances of setting an interview and possibly getting hired?
2.Would hiring managers count my nursing school friend as a reference?
3. How should I approach to my co-workers about this? I need to know appropriate ways to ask them to be my references. I am not personally close with them, but we work pretty good together. So asking them something gets a little hard for me here. And their thoughts that I am asking them this to find another job! lol. I know this is a professional world, but still...
4. Is anybody I work with okay to be a reference? I work with a PCA who absolutely loves working with me, she describes the reasons well. I would love to list her as one. Would having her as a reference count less than having a RN, for hiring managers?
5. Could there be any other good references than co-workers? Even my high school teacher who I keep in touch and who likes my work ethics and intelligence? I sure don't plan to list close friends or family though, since it would be perceived biased.
6. Lastly, how many references would be just sufficient?
Sorry if I am asking too many questions, and thanks for reading. I would appreciate your responses!
Hey,do employers actually contact referees? Can't I come up with my own?
I am unsure what you mean by coming up with your own? Do you mean to be your own reference? I would highly recommend against that.
I had the same experience as described above, I was required to supply 5 references, at least one current/former manager/supervisor. And yes, in my experience, my references were actually contacted. I have also been contacted as a reference for former coworkers.
All in all, my thoughts are that you definitely need to have solid, legit references.
Nurseliisa
1 Post
Hey,do employers actually contact referees? Can't I come up with my own?