Guidelines For Selecting References

A reference is a document relating to your professional competence.  Its purpose is to recommend you to employers or graduate/professional schools who are considering your application.

Make sure you obtain permission from your reference providers before using their names. When requesting references you should concentrate on those individuals who have first-hand knowledge of your qualifications, rather than requesting references from friends, co-workers, people whom you have supervised, character references (unless the employer specifically requests character references), relatives, people who do not know you well or who have not been in a position to evaluate your performance in a work-related or academic setting.

Generally you want at least three (3) individuals to provide references and obtain references on Career Center forms or organization letterhead.  (Be aware that increasingly employers are just requesting names, addresses and phone numbers of reference providers rather than written references so they can ask their own specific reference questions.  Even in these situations you will need to obtain permission from your reference providers and follow the other guidelines suggested here.)

It is wise when requesting a reference, to give the provider some specific written suggestions or guidelines.  Ask the reference provider to comment on a project, skill, quality, or area of experience that will feature your achievements and strengths in the context in which you dealt with the reference provider and also what will be most relevant to the employer or graduate/professional school reader.  Keep in mind etiquette details such as allowing plenty of time for reference providers to write letters and providing a stamped, addressed envelope if the reference needs to be mailed directly to the requestor.  Make your reference providers’ jobs as easy as possible!

Remember to thank your reference providers (you never know if you’ll need their assistance again in the future).  Keeping them informed of what is going on with your job search can be very helpful.  If they know you are being seriously considered by an organization that may follow up with them for a reference and they know something about the position for which you are being considered they will be better able to respond to a follow-up phone call from that employer or school.  Also let your reference providers know when you have been selected for a job or accepted by a school so they know they will no longer be contacted on your behalf.

For further assistance please contact the Career Center.