Letters of Recommendation (rant and question)

I wish we had the same system as in Germany - you automatically get a reference letter every time you leave a job. The trick there is that there is a list of stock phrases used & if you know the key, you can tell if that positive sounding letter was actually positive or not so much.

Typically, when I ask for one, I send one that is basically "hand written" based on the evidence/experience that that person would have of me and say "as a template or for the idea, or you can just sign this one and send it to me." And usually, they do just that.

But I also have friends who love to write, so it's not hard for them to write a new one -- but I just want to provide for them just in case.

I'm also a reference for several people -- i have a "canned" letter in my "drop box" or "cloud" online, so that I can access it pretty much anywhere. It's been helpful, btu I've only needed to use it once.

No I have *NEVER* been asked for a letter of recommendation in my life! And remember I was job searching not that long ago.

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And, yes, it's a good idea both to have a reference list attached to your resume with contact information and some "letters of recommendation" that you've obtained from prior bosses as you switch jobs in your resume file.

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Well from what I've been told attaching a reference list to the resume is not a good idea (because noone really wants it when they are first getting a resume, they may well want some references later but they will ask - and they have). As for "letters of recommendation": who would even HAVE ANY IDEA whatsoever to even get them from past bosses? Especially as I've never heard of them being asked for before and I've job searched a few times in my life.

I agree people are probably just being lazy in writing these, so yea making it easier for them will help ....

Thank you, ZG--I wish you were one of those people too!

I have found in life that there are some people who either have not looked for a job lately, as you pointed out, or who have never been "let go" from a job. Ever. I remember a pen pal asking me the week after I was let go from my job of 7 years, asking "hey, any leads yet?" I was tempted to say, "No, Jim, I'm too busy crying my eyes out every day to pursue any leads." Oy vey.

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Originally Posted by Zoe Girl

that is horrible. I know my daughter needs 3 professional ones for a first job really. It is super hard, and people are not answering.

I am very careful to get them right away to people. I guess other people have not looked for a job lately? I am so sorry they are being pains, I would just be honest that you have asked X number of people, you have this one, are expecting another, etc.

After this happened to me (actually child custody and my friends who thought my ex was not a safe parent still drug their feet) I started getting letters of reference whenever I moved around job-wise. Even volunteer work I got letters within a month of leaving. You never know.

I am sending super good vibes, big hope, and I wish I was one of the people you needed a letter from.

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You know, we could learn a lot here from Europe's policies of employment. Especially the long vacations and leave permitted for parents, and health care, etc.

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Originally Posted by Bastelmutti

I wish we had the same system as in Germany - you automatically get a reference letter every time you leave a job. The trick there is that there is a list of stock phrases used & if you know the key, you can tell if that positive sounding letter was actually positive or not so much.

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Get this one: Three of the people are professional writers! So what is the excuse?

Update for everybody: I did get one (today) from my former boss, on official "I am the VP of this place" letterhead so I sent that. Yesterday, I sent three others: one from a former co-worker (same company as the veep), one from my former supervisor at the job I had prior to my last one (she is the one with the baby so I totally understand how busy she is), and the third from a friend I've known since the late 1970s. It may help that she is an attorney.

It is for an academic job.

I should now work on getting "generic" ones so I don't find myself in this position again. Sigh.

Thank you all for your good wishes, too!

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Originally Posted by Zoebird

Typically, when I ask for one, I send one that is basically "hand written" based on the evidence/experience that that person would have of me and say "as a template or for the idea, or you can just sign this one and send it to me." And usually, they do just that.

But I also have friends who love to write, so it's not hard for them to write a new one -- but I just want to provide for them just in case.

I'm also a reference for several people -- i have a "canned" letter in my "drop box" or "cloud" online, so that I can access it pretty much anywhere. It's been helpful, btu I've only needed to use it once.

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