I’m flattered whenever I am asked to provide a reference for people, I really am. It happens several times a year.
Why a prospective employer would want my opinion, I don’t know, but I am happy to provide one, or a letter of recommendation, if requested.
I enjoy seeing coworkers move on to exciting jobs, and ‘bigger and better things.’
But I’m always honest when providing references.
If you are an excellent clinician, then I will make that perfectly clear in my reference. If you can intubate a newborn kitten left handed in the dark during a snowstorm while hung over, then I will make that clear as well. If you know more about pharmacology than a man with a PDR in his hand, then I will be glad to make that known as well.
But employers don’t care too much about your clinical skills. Sure, they are important, but a boss wants to make sure that you will show up on time first.
So if you frequently call out, show up late, or don’t show up at all, don’t be surprised when you don’t get hired.
And don’t be mad at me for telling the truth.
Like the old EMS adage goes, ‘you should know what the monitor is going to say before you put the monitor on the patient;’ you should know what your reference is going to say about you before you request the reference.
