Re: Letters of Recommendation

[nhickman <nhickman -at- GVI -dot- NET>]

Letters are often written as favors, so returning them with a note to correct the
errors is a very tricky situation.

If you have questions, you can always contact the person that wrote the letters
and try to get some clarity. The last manager may have different values than you.
I know that I have my own values about attendence and dress code that is not the
same as everyone. A person not at their desk directly at 8, but who gets the job
done, does not get under my skin, so I would not even comment on this aspect.

Letters of recommendations or phone recommendations can be deceiving. Some people
want to get rid of the person gracefully at their office, so they'll write
anything. On the other hand, you may see or hear information about a person that
is false, either because the person doing the recommendation cannot write or
speak clearly or because of some character flaw.

I know of a case last month where a manager was fired, because she trashed
everyone that left her group, despite his or her performance. This manager did
this even though she said she would give a good review and seemed happy for the
person leaving. However, the manager eventually got caught for her patently false
comments to other employers. Isn't it a shame that in the meantime some people in
the community got a false impression of some really good candidates.

Letters and grades and degrees don't let a hiring manager off the hook for
carefully evaluating a candidate. And please, you guys out there, let the
candidate know on a fairly regular basis where you are in the decision/hiring
process. Give as much courtesy as you demand of applicants.

-- Nancy Hickman


 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=