Your references should be people that are familiar with your work ethics, personality and skills.
I know you’re probably wondering who you should ask for as a reference-- well that’s simple! You can ask former bosses (supervisors, managers), co-workers, vendors and colleagues; they all make great professional references. If you are just starting out in the workforce or haven’t worked in a while, you can request a character reference from your professors or a religious affiliation member who is familiar with your skills and attributes.
A wise lawyer once commented “Never ask a question you don’t know the answer to”. So then, do not use someone for a reference unless you’ve gotten permission first. It may help to have them send you a draft letter, or use LinkedIn as a resource for collecting references.
Sometimes employers request about three or four references. Your references should be listed on a separate sheet from your resume and should match the font and format of your resume. Include the names and complete contact information of each reference, including job title, employer, address and telephone numbers.
Submit references only when the employer requests them. It is no longer appropriate to indicate on your resume “References available upon request”.
Your references are doing you a favor that can help you land your next job; be sure to send a thank you note. The more you keep in contact with them, the more likely they are to remember you favorably.
The next time you’re interviewing and an employer asks “Do you have any references?” you can give them a BIG smile and reply, “Yes, I have references.”
Written by: Jenny Baguidy
I really like this article because sometimes when creating a reference page you don't know who to use as a reference and this article gives you a few tips on who to use as an reference
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Ishaller Melvin. Do you need to have your reference email address as well as information? By the way this article answered alot of thoughts I had.
ReplyDeleteI happen to really like this article. I am one of those people who thought placing (references available upon request) was the appropiate way to refer to references. My family always looks for me when it's time to do their resume and with these valuable tips, i know i can do a way better resume than i have perviously.
ReplyDeleteThis article was simple. I enjoyed it. One question I had was is it a good idea to have the reference letters typed and ready so that if a potiental employer as, "Do you have any references?" You can pass them to him at that moment?
ReplyDeleteThank you all for reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteIshaller Melvin- Yes, you should request full contact information ( including email) from all of your references.
Honestly, this article did give alot of detail as far as using references. Alot of people don't no how to use references, for example some people might try to use there friends. This article shows you who to use and how to use them.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very helpfull, because it gives you a hint of answers when it comes to whom you should consider as a "reference". i mean i never thougtht of it this way, but now i have a better idea/understanding of whom to add to my references list and why.
ReplyDeleteAh thanks Jenny! This information is very important to know. I am going to let a few of my friends read this, because they always use me as a reference but this blog you wrote will give them more insight on who to use as a reference, when to use the references and why you should use references. I will also keep this in mind.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very helpful when it comes to using references. At first I didnt realize how important it is to choose the right people as your references. I also learned some interesting steps in chosing the right reference.Overall I think everyone should read this article because it will help them the same way it helped me.
ReplyDeleteI like how you stated make sure you tell the person that you are using them as a reference. I used my teacher and I forgot to tell her and a few employers called her and she didn't like that very much. It's good to find out new things.
ReplyDelete