Anonymous wrote:13:23 may speak only for her sad self, in spite of thinking she speaks for all. Her blabber isn't worth my time.

Will you please go away? We all know you're the crazy troll poster, forum nazi poster, essential procedure poster, whatever. Go away. I hope to goodness you aren't a nanny, and even if you are, the sane nannies on this site do not want you advocating(or whatever it is you're trying to do) for us. You're the same troll Jeff called out, and you also promised to go away remember? Find a new place to troll. There are plenty of other websites. On this one you're affecting people's jobs! We find jobs here, and you're making us look insane.

13:23 may speak only for her sad self, in spite of thinking she speaks for all. Her blabber isn't worth my time.

The "essential procedures" poster doesn't understand how employers perceive candidates.

1. Nanny hands over a written reference but tells the prospective employer that the reference shouldn't be contacted. Outcome: Sounds fishy and letter might as well be fake so the nanny candidate is automatically put into the no pile. Who would believe that the letter was real?

2. Nanny hands over reference and give the number. The previous employer doesn't return calls so the letter still has no authenticity and the letter looks fishy. Nanny goes into the no pile.

3. Nanny hands over reference and former employer talks to previous employer. The prospective employer hears the negatives about this candidate. All the previous employer needs to do is say something like " We wrote this letter to help her find evening sitting jobs which we believe she would be good but we don't recommend her as a full time nanny for insert whatever opinion (ability to follow instructions, initiative, communication). " OR "This nanny required a written reference every 3 months. We printed one off just to make her happy. In hindsight, we should have realized why and we don't recommend her." Nanny goes into the no pile.

Its bad advice and nannies aren't gaining anything. In fact, its pretty fishy that EP poster has a problem with crazy employers. Its more likely she is fired often for performance and attitude and coming up with a dumb idea to hide it. God luck with that approach.

For the OP, honesty delivered with professional courtesy and a good choice of words will work more in your favor.

My reference letters are normally written on business letterhead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're missing the point. You can gather all the letters you want. A serious employer is still going to want to call to verify them.

How many hours would your "serious" employer spend trying to track down references who may have moved in the last 10 or 20 years? Oh, I know, your serious employer is going to hire a private investigator to do all the legwork, right? After all, your serious employer still needs to earn a living and not be hanging on the phone all day trying to verify a bunch of old letter writers.

Well, I'm an MB and while I may not be able to track down references from 10 years ago I'm also not going to take a letter of reference from your most recent employer instead of talking to them on the phone. And if all you have are letters from 10 years ago and no one for me to talk to on the phone you are not getting the job. I have no idea if the letter is real, I'm not hiring anyone based on any letters.

OP, every MB is going to be different but from my perspective, I'd much rather you just be honest with me and say "my current MB isn't so happy that I am leaving so I'd rather not use her as a reference but here are 3 references from the last 5-10 years who you can speak with." If you give me a letter from your current MB and I can't talk to her that would be a huge red flag for me.

How many references do you give your favorite nanny applicants? If your answer is zero, how does the nanny know that you'll give her a paycheck on time? Or that your husband isn't on the prowl?

This post had nothing to do with how many references we should get or whether I give applicants references. It was about a reference letter vs speaking with former employers but since you tried to turn it around on me I will tell you that I provide applicants we want to hire with the names and numbers of all 3 of our former nannies (including our most recent nanny). I do NOT give them any written letters because I wouldn't expect them to believe a letter any more than I would.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're missing the point. You can gather all the letters you want. A serious employer is still going to want to call to verify them.

How many hours would your "serious" employer spend trying to track down references who may have moved in the last 10 or 20 years? Oh, I know, your serious employer is going to hire a private investigator to do all the legwork, right? After all, your serious employer still needs to earn a living and not be hanging on the phone all day trying to verify a bunch of old letter writers.

Well, I'm an MB and while I may not be able to track down references from 10 years ago I'm also not going to take a letter of reference from your most recent employer instead of talking to them on the phone. And if all you have are letters from 10 years ago and no one for me to talk to on the phone you are not getting the job. I have no idea if the letter is real, I'm not hiring anyone based on any letters.

OP, every MB is going to be different but from my perspective, I'd much rather you just be honest with me and say "my current MB isn't so happy that I am leaving so I'd rather not use her as a reference but here are 3 references from the last 5-10 years who you can speak with." If you give me a letter from your current MB and I can't talk to her that would be a huge red flag for me.

How many references do you give your favorite nanny applicants? If your answer is zero, how does the nanny know that you'll give her a paycheck on time? Or that your husband isn't on the prowl?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're missing the point. You can gather all the letters you want. A serious employer is still going to want to call to verify them.

How many hours would your "serious" employer spend trying to track down references who may have moved in the last 10 or 20 years? Oh, I know, your serious employer is going to hire a private investigator to do all the legwork, right? After all, your serious employer still needs to earn a living and not be hanging on the phone all day trying to verify a bunch of old letter writers.

Well, I'm an MB and while I may not be able to track down references from 10 years ago I'm also not going to take a letter of reference from your most recent employer instead of talking to them on the phone. And if all you have are letters from 10 years ago and no one for me to talk to on the phone you are not getting the job. I have no idea if the letter is real, I'm not hiring anyone based on any letters.

OP, every MB is going to be different but from my perspective, I'd much rather you just be honest with me and say "my current MB isn't so happy that I am leaving so I'd rather not use her as a reference but here are 3 references from the last 5-10 years who you can speak with." If you give me a letter from your current MB and I can't talk to her that would be a huge red flag for me.

Anonymous wrote:Please stop hijacking my post with this crazy bullshit. You people sound nuts.

What are you talking about?

Please stop hijacking my post with this crazy bullshit. You people sound nuts.

Anonymous wrote:You're missing the point. You can gather all the letters you want. A serious employer is still going to want to call to verify them.

How many hours would your "serious" employer spend trying to track down references who may have moved in the last 10 or 20 years? Oh, I know, your serious employer is going to hire a private investigator to do all the legwork, right? After all, your serious employer still needs to earn a living and not be hanging on the phone all day trying to verify a bunch of old letter writers.

You're missing the point. You can gather all the letters you want. A serious employer is still going to want to call to verify them.

Anonymous wrote:

The "essential procedures" poster is just an idiot or thinks that MBs are idiots. No one is going to accept a written letter as authentic without speaking to the employer. Getting a reference letter a few weeks before quitting under false pretenses is only going to show your prospective employers that you are manipulative.

Follow the earlier poster's advice to be honest, careful not to slam your previous employer and offer up additional references from previous families.

+1

Don't take basic precautions, because former employers are always truthful about you.

The "essential procedures" poster is just an idiot or thinks that MBs are idiots. No one is going to accept a written letter as authentic without speaking to the employer. Getting a reference letter a few weeks before quitting under false pretenses is only going to show your prospective employers that you are manipulative.

Follow the earlier poster's advice to be honest, careful not to slam your previous employer and offer up additional references from previous families.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "essential procedures" poster is just an idiot or thinks that MBs are idiots. No one is going to accept a written letter as authentic without speaking to the employer. Getting a reference letter a few weeks before quitting under false pretenses is only going to show your prospective employers that you are manipulative.

Follow the earlier poster's advice to be honest, careful not to slam your previous employer and offer up additional references from previous families.

No the PP you quoted but I must say, you're the idiot here. Getting written letter ref just incase the former MB gives a negative telephone reference.

You are right. There's one idiot mb poster who I suspect would earn "the worst employer of the year" title. Thankfully, there's others who are amazing.

Anonymous wrote:The "essential procedures" poster is just an idiot or thinks that MBs are idiots. No one is going to accept a written letter as authentic without speaking to the employer. Getting a reference letter a few weeks before quitting under false pretenses is only going to show your prospective employers that you are manipulative.

Follow the earlier poster's advice to be honest, careful not to slam your previous employer and offer up additional references from previous families.

No the PP you quoted but I must say, you're the idiot here. Getting written letter ref just incase the former MB gives a negative telephone reference.