letter recommendation from a lab i was fired from?

[pillhappy]

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Today my lab manager let me go from my lab because my lab work has not been as accurate as it should be (I work in a dry lab). I am pretty bummed because I liked this lab and was hoping to get a letter of rec from the manager. I've been working here since December till now. We ended on friendly terms and she said that she wouldn't mind if I used her as a reference if I apply to any other future labs. She also suggested a possibility that I might be able to transfer to another branch of the same lab but is bench lab instead (thinking that I might be better suited for a different environment that requires different skills).

Do you think it would be strange if I went ahead and asked her for a LOR for next cycle if I am not able to land another lab job (since they can be pretty competitive)? Like many of you here, I go to a UC where the school is very large and LORs can be hard to get sometimes because class sizes are so huge.

Thanks for your input!

 

[sab818]

I'm not sure about this one. It's a gamble. I used to work in a lab for a lady and I witnessed her purposely giving bad LOR's to people she let go before me or students who got post-bacc's. She was a weird lady. Her thing was if you didn't get it the first time why pursue post-bacc, MD, or any other degree. She smiled and did the whole works when students asked her. Unfortunately, when she got in front of the computer it was another story. Good luck though.

 

[Majic]

If her letter is good and you didn't end on bad terms then I don't see the problem with getting one.

 

[cuedee]

Today my lab manager let me go from my lab because my lab work has not been as accurate as it should be (I work in a dry lab). I am pretty bummed because I liked this lab and was hoping to get a letter of rec from the manager. I've been working here since December till now. We ended on friendly terms and she said that she wouldn't mind if I used her as a reference if I apply to any other future labs. She also suggested a possibility that I might be able to transfer to another branch of the same lab but is bench lab instead (thinking that I might be better suited for a different environment that requires different skills).

Do you think it would be strange if I went ahead and asked her for a LOR for next cycle if I am not able to land another lab job (since they can be pretty competitive)? Like many of you here, I go to a UC where the school is very large and LORs can be hard to get sometimes because class sizes are so huge.

Thanks for your input!

Absolutely NOT! It is incredibly risky for you to ask the person who fired you for a LOR. IMHO, you would be shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[kevintech]

Do you think it would be strange if I went ahead and asked her for a LOR for next cycle if I am not able to land another lab job (since they can be pretty competitive)? Like many of you here, I go to a UC where the school is very large and LORs can be hard to get sometimes because class sizes are so huge.

Thanks for your input!

do you go to ucla?

 

[SCCpharm]

I agree. It would be risky for me. She could always mention that you were fired and it would be the truth.

 

[ruth265]

tell her to make a hard copy of the rec letter for your records. One time I asked my prof for letter of rec. and I didnt like what he wrote so I didnt send in his letter of rec and I asked someone else to write me one. On the q's where it asked how would you rate this student top 10%, top 25% etc, he put top 25% and there were a few like that. Always ask for a hard copy

 

[Majic]

tell her to make a hard copy of the rec letter for your records. One time I asked my prof for letter of rec. and I didnt like what he wrote so I didnt send in his letter of rec and I asked someone else to write me one. On the q's where it asked how would you rate this student top 10%, top 25% etc, he put top 25% and there were a few like that. Always ask for a hard copy

Best course of action👍

 

[cuedee]

tell her to make a hard copy of the rec letter for your records. One time I asked my prof for letter of rec. and I didnt like what he wrote so I didnt send in his letter of rec and I asked someone else to write me one. On the q's where it asked how would you rate this student top 10%, top 25% etc, he put top 25% and there were a few like that. Always ask for a hard copy

I like this idea but I don't feel comfortable asking. Geez, I'm a chump. 😳

 

[Jammerdez1]

Not worth it. I had a job that I was planning on leaving after having worked there for a couple of years. The manager and I were on good terms (as far as I knew) and I used her as a reference. It took me 10 job interviews to realize that she was giving me a BAD recommendation (ie- I would get interviewed, everything looked great, then a day later I would get a call saying they filled the position with someone else). As soon as I stopped using her as a reference I landed a solid job. Couldn't believe she could be so two-faced.

Moral of the story: Not sure, but I wouldn't trust a boss that fired me, regardless of whether we were on good terms or not.

 

[uop4pharm]

Ask him/her if she is willing to give you a favorable recommendation, emphasis on favorable. If her language or body language hint that she can't than pass on that.

 

[ruth265]

get comfortable because you will be a pharmacist you shouldn't hesitate. what if a patient comes with a certain disease what are going to say then i didn't feel comfortable asking?

I like this idea but I don't feel comfortable asking. Geez, I'm a chump. 😳

 

[mochiko]

You can't always just ask for a hard copy. Many people will deny your request if you don't waive your right to see the letter.

Asking for a letter from someone that fired you is risky. I personally wouldn't take the chance.

 

[jyw003]

If her letter is good and you didn't end on bad terms then I don't see the problem with getting one.

fired...how is that not bad terms?

don't get a LOR from your manager...its too risky. find another lab and make sure you do things more carefully and accurately. ask ppl if you have questions too...