References

I'm putting together my references for my interviews.

Should I include personal references as well, or just work related ones?

I am bringing with me one written reference that gave me glowing reviews from when I was doing research as part of my back-to-work program a few years back. I'm also bringing along a copy of a "daisy card" that the CRN and Unit Manager gave to me a couple years ago acknowledging my ability to motivate people and how I played an integral part in a young woman's care to the point that she modified her behaviour in order to protect her unborn child.

Plus I have a list of other references that they can call. But I'm not sure I should include personal references.

I've confided in 2 of the doctors I work with, 1 is a department head, and the other is the one that gave me a cup of coffee for Christmas! Both said that they will give me excellent references, and that they will keep my secret that I'm looking for another job.

Also, the place I'm going to interview at tomorrow is a place where one of my friends works. She started there not long ago, maybe 5 or 6 weeks. I've never worked with her outside of nursing school. So I'm not sure I should mention that I know her.

It's always good to have a couple character references, though there should be many more work references. It actually depends on your industry. Just think about if work skills are the only thing that matters for the job, or if they value good human beings.

Originally Posted by rad65

It's always good to have a couple character references, though there should be many more work references. It actually depends on your industry. Just think about if work skills are the only thing that matters for the job, or if they value good human beings.

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As a nurse, they value both.

Thank you I'll include my sister-in-law and my friend that I went to nursing school with. Both are nurses. The rest will be work related references.

We talked about this a bit in the HR section of my Payroll class.. You obviously wouldn't give names of people who don't like you as references, so I think personal references really don't count for a whole lot to the employer. That said, past employers probably aren't going to (or shouldn't) say much about your character either, because if you didn't get the job and you found out they said something bad about you, you could sue them. They try to be very objective to protect themselves. That's the ridiculousness of our litigious society.

Anyway, it sounds like you know what you're doing, so you'll be ok.

More vibes to ace the interviews!!

I always have two employer refs and a personal one i thnk you get to know more about the character of a person from a friend as a character reference

if i was a potential employer i would like to see personal references as well as professional even if its just a contact number rather than a letter form

I think you've gotten exactly the right advice -- so I'm just adding some Fabulous-Interview vibes!

Good luck on the interviews. I think if the personal references can provide positive feedback you should include them.