Laid Off at Last Non-Nursing Job Before Became Nurse - Use Manager as Reference?

[live&love&heal]

I was laid off from my previous career in IT before I switched to nursing.

I am in the process of applying for jobs and coming to the point during applications online where they ask for references. I have only come across one job listing which requests for a references from previous employers.

I am not sure whether to list my previous manager at my IT job where I was laid off. I felt as though I was in an "all boys club" as IT is a male dominated field. My manager, of course was male, and I was never given the opportunites to work on the projects I wanted to work on and was always passed up for promotions and raises. Don't get me wrong, I was an excellent performer. I was just not one of the boys.

So my question is,"Should I use him as a reference?" If not, can I use my instructors from nursing instead?

Thanks in advance!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I was in IT also.

DId you get fired or laid off? Laid off, sure. Fired, nah.

[Haoyin]

Use your nursing instructors...

[itsmejuli]

Usually you're asked to provide 3 references.

I would use the IT manager, a nursing instructor and a personal friend.

[brownberrry]

i would advise you not to use your it supervisor some people are very envious and mean spirted and might say one thing in your face and something totally opposite to the potential employer unless your sure your going to get a great reference dont mention them.

[caliotter3]

Use your nursing instructors to get a nursing job. Remember, if not for your previous manager, you would still be at that job, and you would be thriving there. And I found out the hard way that the person who was preventing me from getting work was the person who promised me a good reference. All that time, all those jobs, and that deceitful person kept me from earning a living, when I thought he was giving a good reference. Never would have found out until I was told what he was saying by a prospective employer. Trust no one.

[linzz]

If you have even the slightest doubt, skip that person and find someone else. The others are right, you can use your teachers, I have used mine and they gave good references.

I am saying this because I had someone on my list that I thought would give me good references but actually did the opposite and made sure that I didn't get the job. I learned the hard way to trust actions not words.

[shiccy]

I say if you had a good working relationship with that person, go for it. You said that you weren't "one of the boys" and paired with the fact that you're questioning whether or not to use him as a reference, I'd say you'd probably be better off without ...

[NurseLil-lea]

I would say use your nursing instructors for reference or personal friends that know you and have you best at heart. If your manager passed you over for projects and raises, what makes you think he would say anything good about you? I had a manager like that and I wouldn't dare to use him for a nursing reference.

[rn4ever?]

Doubt means NO!

[NurseCard, ADN]

You don't have any other previous employers/bosses that you could use? I would avoid using your IT boss; it doesn't sound like he had much respect for you as a worker and doesn't sound to me like he's going to be all that willing to provide you with a glowing reference. Not saying that you don't deserve one, but it just doesn't sound to me like he's someone who will give you one.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

Use nursing instructors as refs.