Letters of recommendation.

Nurses Job Hunt

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Any insight on the weight given to them, versus a telephone reference? I can't locate my former bosses, but I have letters from several of them. I'd cringe to have anyone think, for a second, I'd present letters that were not genuine, factual, and etc.?

This is all new to me- letters, references, resumes? Never in my life until now (because I'v been on prolonged 'vacation', which is why I asked for the letters in the first place- no recent work history) did I ever have to do anything except fill out an application, after being asked:"When can you start"? I've never even had a resume. Used to be all you had to do was show a license when you walked in the door. Times have changed, eh?

Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I am on our hiring panel, and we require references via email, with a phone backup. Our online application requires the name, title, how long worked with, phone and email. That email CANNOT be a Gmail/Yahoo address, it must be a verifiable business-domain company email address that is current and accurate. NO paper letters are accepted.

Them's the rules with our company. No exceptions. Find references who fit this criteria, or get out of the way of the 100's of other applicants who have.

Even if I didn't work at a place that had an electronic application system in place, I still would never accept a paper letter reference or recommendation in this day and age. I'd want a business email address, their business card, with all current contact info, from their company. I would insist on verifying and communicating with the person myself. With how desperate the market has become, the risk of fraud is very high.

Specializes in CCM, PHN.
This is all new to me- letters references, resumes? Never in my life until now (because I'v been on prolonged 'vacation', which is why I asked for the letters in the first place- no recent work history) did I ever have to do anything except fill out an application, after being asked:"When can you start"? I've never even had a resume. Used to be all you had to do was show a license when you walked in the door. Times have changed, eh?[/quote']

That must have been one long vacation! Resumes & references have been standard and commonplace in every place I've worked for over 20 years - across every profession I've worked in!

The days of filling out an application and being asked when can you start are gone. I don't think they will return, even in future nursing shortages, employers will want to show due diligence and have resumes and references on file. Have you considered taking a refresher program? I know others who stepped away from nursing have returned via refresher courses.

Lets all sing it!!

"those ...were ...the ...days my friend, we'd thought they'd never end...."

Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

My mom was out of nursing for 5 years and took a refresher class. She got a job through one of the clinicals she did in the refresher class.

That must have been one long vacation! Resumes & references have been standard and commonplace in every place I've worked for over 20 years - across every profession I've worked in!

Five years, after twenty five on. Dozens of jobs, never have provided a resume. Hired based on my reputation, even before completing an application. Asking for references, even, if it happened, was casual. And I've also never had a single person tell me they were ever called as a reference check on me. Come to think of it- not a single person has ever called ME, either, to verify people that used me for a reference. Hard to believe, but that's the facts. Also hard to believe is the gigantic drop in pay since the good old 1980's, which I mention often, It's still making my head spin.

A letter of recommendation bears more weight in my case, although it is still subject for verification these days.

So I have a question- I'm guessing the letter looks better if it's signed, but I have a couple that aren't because the writer emailed it to me. Does that look bad? They still have the writer's phone number and email so they can be contacted..

So I have a question- I'm guessing the letter looks better if it's signed, but I have a couple that aren't because the writer emailed it to me. Does that look bad? They still have the writer's phone number and email so they can be contacted..

Why wouldn't a letter be signed?

Depends on the employer. Had one requested my nurse friend contact her references to send letters of recommendation. Originally it was to be emailed, but there was a problem sending it that way so I called the employer and acquired the fax number to send that way, with my signature.

There are different types of letters of recommendation: personal, professional, academic. Be sure you know your reference and what the employer is asking for.

Specializes in Ambulatory care.

Your proof of having worked there is: W4s, tax returns and pay stubs. Your accountant should have copies of all that and if nto hmm i guess contact the IRS about getting a copy. track down your writers via internet or acquaintances if not possible then go volunteer, network make new friends and contacts because the employer must be able to reach someone who can vouch for your character,work and something or another. Yes the job market is very different now than before so any applicant who doesn't have the required items will be discarded for the next person who does. You know once I was offered a job on the spot because when asked if i had my license number and i said yes and would they like a copy of it and i gave them a copy of my entire info packet with references, resulted in a double blink and a question of when can you start? Good luck

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