Job Applications

[Seagate]

I have a couple questions. These are very basic questions but I need some opinions.

1) When asked for 3 references, can I put down my clinical instructors? Am I supposed to tell the clinical instructors that I will be putting them down or ask for the permission?

2) Does human resources actually call your previous employer? If so, what do they usually ask? I ask this because I worked for three years at a nursing home that was as you say on here very "toxic" but I needed the money for school. I hated everyday of work but I stuck with it. I had a falling out and now I'm scared that my previous boss/supervisor might be bad mouthing me if HR calls them. While working at the nursing home I would put applications to different hospitals and my supervisor would make small comments letting me know that so-and-so hospital called them to inquire about me, which leads me to believe that HR does call. But what do they ask?

[Katie5]

Yes, unless your employer requests otherwise, you can use your clinical instructors.

And as part of courtesy, yo may just want to tell your instructors you would be using their names you know.

[L8RRN]

I would definitely let the instructors know ahead of time. You never put down a personal/professional reference without permission from who you are putting down!

As for former employer being checked, it depends. My current job asked for two professional and one personal reference. My two professional were instructors and my personal was a fellow student. They did not send anything to my former employer.

Good luck! By law, in most states, they are only able to state that you did work there, the date, the pay, job title, and sometimes if you are eligible for rehire. I don't know if that applies in your state, but I use to work in HR in another state and that was pretty much all we could say legally. "Hints" were sometimes given by the tone of the voice or something, but we couldn't say a whole lot. :wink2:

[caliotter3]

You should certainly ask for permission to use someone as a reference and let them know that you are submitting applications with their reference on it so they are not surprised. Do not get hung up on prospective employers calling former places of employment. Many times they do not even bother to make the call, and there is nothing you can do about what will be said anyway. However, be on the lookout for feedback that someone is spreading negative information about you. You most likely will not have grist for a lawsuit, but you can tell when you need to change your contact info on future applications.