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The place I temporarily worked for gave me a letter of recommendation.
Career / 1:43 PM - Friday February 03, 2012

The place I temporarily worked for gave me a letter of recommendation.

It's in a sealed envelope with the word "confidential" stamped on the outside. I want to walk in person to hand in my resume to a particular place. Can I open the envelope and make a copy of it? Or am I suppose to keep it until an interview and hand the unopened original?

- Asked by An Alternative Girl, Female, Who Cares?

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You need to open that envelope and make copies of the letter, so you can give one to each prospective employer. It said "confidential" on it, so nobody but YOU would open the envelope.

- Response by justpassingthru, A Thinker, Female, 46-55, Financial / Banking

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No the confidential stamp would be for you, open it and make copies for other potential employers as well.

- Response by seasons4, A Sportif, Female, 46-55, Financial / Banking

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Community Rating: Community Star

Ouuuuu - it could be a test.

What do you think, U worked there - good recommendation or bad?

I'd of insisted on a copy!

- Response by rafiki910, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, Who Cares?, Boston, Body Work

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Please don't open it. It is meant for your interviewer and is confidential between them.

You could contact your temp. employer and see if they would be willing to give you a copy of that .. or a general letter of recommendation. That would be more "proper".

- Response by mrscleaver16, A Married Girl, Female, 56-65

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Confidential should mean for you not some other employee to see. You should know what you are dealing with before an potential employer looks at it. Rosey

- Response by roseytalks, A Thinker, Female, Who Cares?, Tampa, Who Cares?

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No you are not supposed to open it. The reason is that if you are not satisfied with your rating, the place of temporary employment knows you will not submit that letter for possible
employment.

That is why many letters of recommendations are mailed directly to any possible future employers.

Also,if you open it, any future employer may think you edited the letter to make it more favorable to obtain employment.

- Response by size008, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 66 or older, New York, Retired

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You open it and make sure what is written is favourable. Make copies for you resume and keep the original (take it with you in case they ask to see it). A potential employer can always make contact with a previous one to enquire about you in any case.

- Response by cam80, A Career Woman, Female, 29-35

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*facepalm..... I think you should return the envelope.

- Response by inotnuts, A Father Figure, Male, 36-45, Newark, Retired

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