Letters of Recommendation

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's been a while since I was in the job market, which is where I currently find myself and I have been asked for letters of recommendation.

Now, I know that I can get one from my employer, and maybe a few other survey companies I subcontracted from, but I am wondering how reasonable it might be to talk to some of the clients of my old job- I know a few of them would love to help out, but I am honestly not certain if that is considered professional or not- and let's face it, this is probably not the time for me to appear unprofessional.

I know we have more than a few professional members here, and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Oh, and yes, I would be certain to get my former employer's blessing before approaching any former clients... it would be awfully rude for me not to!

Def

[Grathr]

Id think that getting letters from former clients would be fine, especially if they are relevant for the job you are applying for.

However I know little of how corporate culture works in your neck of the woods, So I might be wrong.

[derekmac]

Clients are people that can provide actual feedback as to how you handle yourself, and how well you did your job.  As long as you know they'll provide positive feedback, I think they'd be a great resource.

Also....

We could also probably do a big MT.o letter, and we might even leave out the dress pic.

[Grathr]

Clients are people that can provide actual feedback as to how you handle yourself, and how well you did your job.  As long as you know they'll provide positive feedback, I think they'd be a great resource.

Also....

We could also probably do a big MT.o letter, and we might even leave out the dress pic.

Especially if your former employers recomendations match.
However Id be cautious to hire someone who only has client recomendations, and no employer recomendations. That might indicate too happy clients wich might have cost the former employers a lot of money.

[dks]

yes, your former employer should give you a recommendation.

Also, you can also get fake clients to give you one, using friends  as clients, so if anybody checks on these they can tell him how fantastic you were.

In all honesty, it will depend on what work you want. Avoid stupid, unimportant recommendations, like from your teachers, various societies etc, as they appear childish and nobody cares about them.

[Grant Lamontagne]

My former employer would give me a very good recommendation, and the clients would as well.  My former position was solving problems and saving people money.  Even when I was costing people money instead of saving them, I was cheaper than the other contractors they were paying, and so I was at worst the lesser of all the evils!

I figured I could get friends to write nice letters for me but then I realized I have more clients than friends....   

Def

[Crow]

Maybe LinkedIn service could suit you. Add a profile there, and ask your former employers to give their reference there.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Maybe LinkedIn service could suit you. Add a profile there, and ask your former employers to give their reference there.

I'm on LinkedIn already and use it quite a bit.

Def

[Syph007]

Its a completely fine idea as long as you have your old boss in the loop, and you are polite about it.

Just make is seem like you hate to bother them, but you've relocated and have to jump through the formalities of recommendations etc etc to find employment.  Well you know you're better with the word talking them me, but you get the idea. 

[Kampfer]

I don't see anything wrong with it.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Its a completely fine idea as long as you have your old boss in the loop, and you are polite about it.

Just make is seem like you hate to bother them, but you've relocated and have to jump through the formalities of recommendations etc etc to find employment.  Well you know you're better with the word talking them me, but you get the idea. 

There has been discussion from one of them about me taking over his job when he retires in a couple of years.  My boss actually approached them when I got hurt and asked if they could accelerate their timeline somehow to keep me afloat. 

I do hate to bother people and/or ask for things, so that's probably one of the reasons I feel so awkward about doing this.

Def

[enki_ck]

I was at worst the lesser of all the evils!

Def

That's probably the most accurate description of you I ever read but might also be better if you leave it out of your letters of recommendation.

[Aloha]

Its a completely fine idea as long as you have your old boss in the loop, and you are polite about it.

Just make is seem like you hate to bother them, but you've relocated and have to jump through the formalities of recommendations etc etc to find employment.  Well you know you're better with the word talking them me, but you get the idea. 

I don't see anything wrong with it.

Perfectly acceptable.  This is how the corporate machine works anyway.  One hand washes the other, so to speak.  If those clients are happy and your former employer is happy then its a win/win. 

I've not had to seek employment in a while but I didn't hesitate to tap any resource for a good productive word of recommendation. 

[jzmtl]

Its a completely fine idea as long as you have your old boss in the loop, and you are polite about it.

Just make is seem like you hate to bother them, but you've relocated and have to jump through the formalities of recommendations etc etc to find employment.  Well you know you're better with the word talking them me, but you get the idea. 

There has been discussion from one of them about me taking over his job when he retires in a couple of years.  My boss actually approached them when I got hurt and asked if they could accelerate their timeline somehow to keep me afloat. 

I do hate to bother people and/or ask for things, so that's probably one of the reasons I feel so awkward about doing this.

Def

I'd bet he's happy to do it instead of feeing bothered.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Possibly, but I really hate asking for things.

Def