Letters of Recommendation (rant and question)

[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.

[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.

[ApatheticNoMore]

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

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.

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 ....

[frugalone]

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.

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.

[frugalone]

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.

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.

[frugalone]

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!

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.