Who knows you best? Who will write a respectable letter? And who will get back to you with their letter in a timely fashion? Often times this is where people get stuck, which is why choosing the right people to ask for your letter of recommendation is so important. The following is a list of five different resources you should ask for your letter of recommendation, aka LOR.
1. Clinical Instructor(s)
Try to ask previous clinical instructor(s) who you most connected with or ones who taught for the specific unit you plan on applying to. For example, if you are applying for a new grad RN position on a Medical/Surgical floor, it would be great if your Med/Surg clinical instructor could write a unit specific LOR for you.
2. Professor(s)
Did you really connect to one professor in particular? Great! Even if they taught on a specialty you don’t find yourself going into, a previous professor is a great person to ask for a letter of recommendation. They’ve seen your work ethic, communication skills, and likely leadership skills, making them the perfect person to ask.
3. Former Coworker/Peer
Coworkers are another great resource to ask for a letter of recommendation. Have you ever had a coworker become a close friend? If so, they know you both personally and professionally and can speak to your character for both! This type of relationship will make your letter of recommendation more well-rounded and therefore exactly what employers want to see.
4. Boss/Manager
That retail job you worked at throughout nursing school, I bet you have a boss/manager who would be willing to write you a great reference! If so, they likely would have witnessed your teamwork, organizational, and adaptability skillsets. These will look great on a letter of recommendation!
5. Mentor
Have you been part of a club? Did you ever have a mentor maybe through church or from a previous clinical setting. Was there someone who gave you sound advice, nursing or non-nursing? If you have a mentor or have been part of a mentorship program, then this is the perfect person to ask. Even though they may not have seen you in the medical setting before, that’s okay! They can vouch for your personal qualities and characteristics that make you you and a great future nurse!
Who are You Going to Ask for Your Letter of Recommendation?
When thinking of the best person to ask for a LOR, make sure it is someone you can count on and someone you trust to say the greatest things about you that can also translate into the clinical setting. This is what your future employer wants to see.
Even if you are a new grad and don’t have many references directly from the medical field, that is okay. Often times employers who are hiring specifically for “New Grad RN” positions are aware of this and don’t have a problem taking LOR’s from personal rather than professional relationships.
With that being said, a good rule of thumb is to have one personal, one professional, and one past employer write your LOR’s. Doing so helps the employer get a better picture of who you are and the type of nurse you will become.
Remember, you always want to ask for more letters than you think you are actually going to use so you can hand pick the best ones. After all, you wouldn’t want to have a letter of recommendation with your name spelled wrong or any other typos.
And be sure to check out my previous post on How to Ask for an Amazing Letter of Recommendation, for a quick 5 step guide on how to ask for the most perfect letter of recommendation that will make you stand out.
Also be sure check out Resume Tips and Tricks and What to Expect in the First Year as a New Grad Nurse for more info!
Good luck new grads!