"It’s not what you know but who you know that counts"
- Steps to follow in establishing your references
- Formats and styles of reference lists
- References examples
- Do's and Don'ts for references
When choosing individuals for references, keep in mind that the employer will be contacting these individuals to get personal or professional opinions on your behalf. You want to choose three to five individuals who will highly regard you in an employment situation or speak highly of your character, such as:
- Past or present employers
- Instructors, advisors, coaches
- Professional business leaders in your community, etc.
- Always ask individuals beforehand if you may use them as a reference
- Contact your references to tell them of particular recruiters who received your resume and may call on your behalf
- Provide references an updated copy of your resume so they may be familiar with your current skills
- Inform references of any name change or if you go by a different name than is listed on resume
- Ask references how they prefer to be contacted, i.e. work telephone, home telephone, e-mail, mail, etc.
- Give titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr.) to references
Don'ts
- List individuals you have not contacted
- Assume individuals will know who you are
- List individuals whom you have had a negative experience
- Fabricate individuals’ names
- List contact information that is not current or incomplete
From time to time, employers will request in addition to a list of references a written letter of reference.
A Reference Letter should include:
- Job title held and dates of employment (if applicable)
- Relationship of the writer
- Responsibilities (if applicable)
- Work ethic
- Achievements and accomplishments
- Personal endorsement of character
- Abilities and skills
- A self-addressed, stamped envelope with the employer's name and address typed on the front
- Copy of your resume
- Copy of the job description
- A synopsis of how you are prepared to help this company