Reference Letters

[2ndTime]

I was just needing advice on how to go about giving employers refences. Do you think that they prefer a list of references or actual letters? I have an interview coming up, and I'm not sure how many is enough even. I got an automated response after I applied that said to have a list of five! I thought three was standard.

Also, should the letters be addressed to specific people or is it satisfactory to just have the letter addressed "to whom it may concern" because I may need to use that letter for another employer potentially if I end up not getting the position.

What do you think?

[KevinM Recruits]

"To whom it may concern" is pretty standard. Try to get dates you worked there on the letter along with the date the month/year the letter was written for you.

Bring them with you to an interview and give them to the person at the end. Say "should you be interested in some additional background/references about myself i have brought a few copies of Letter of recomendation for yourself, you are welcome to keep these and follow up with the individaul should you chose"

Further, if you are working with a travel/per diem agency these letter will help often them verify your references (JACHO standard) more quickly.

-Kevin M

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Three references may be standard...but that doesn't mean a facility can't require more or less than that. It's their call.

As far as whether to bring contact information or the letter itself...again that is the facility's preference. I'd do both: bring the letters and the contact info with you to the interview. Offer the letters; if they'd rather contact the references themselves, leave the contact info.

All of my reference letters are "to whom it may concern" or have no salutation. But they are all from previous places of employment and mention when/where I worked and what I did there.

[2ndTime]

Thanks for the replies. I am a new graduate, and I guess I just didn't know what the procedure was. I've had references ask me to whom to address the letter. I thought would be good since its personable, but it means that if I didn't get the job offer, then I would have to ask them again to address the letter to someone else. It just seemed like it would be better to make it to no one in particular.