Another important aspect of the job applying process is to identify individuals who can serve as a reference. Previous performance is an indicator of future performance and potential employers are interested in learning about you through a secondary source. Choosing a good reference is an important part of the job search process!
Review the Required Resources thoroughly BEFORE going through the Graded Activities. Please be aware of the due dates associated with this lesson.
Required Resources
Purpose of a Reference
(Estimated time to complete: 2 minutes)
References serve an important purpose for potential employers as they verify your previous work history and qualifications. This is important as unfortunately, people do fake their resumes and previous experiences. References give potential employers the confidence that you have the background and qualifications that you say you do.
There are two types of references, a professional reference and a character reference. The distinction is outlined below:
- Professional references are generally a peer or supervisor that you have worked with who can comment on the quality of your work and your work ethic. In the professional setting, this reference generally holds the highest level of importance to potential employers.
- Character references are individuals that know you and are willing to vouch for you. They know your personality, character and abilities but are able to speak to your abilities as an employee. These references are not necessarily able to talk about how you fit into a specific position but rather a broad overview of your abilities.
Remember references are important as previous performance is generally indicative of future performance. Having a good reference could make the difference in being selected for a position.
Selecting a Reference
(Estimated time to complete: 14 minutes)
When selecting a reference keep in mind these 5 Tips for Choosing a Reference. You also want to review How to choose the right reference from the Harvard Business Review. When selecting a reference, the more recent the better.
As stressed in these online resources, you always want to ask for permission to put an individual down as a reference or to provide a letter of reference/ recommendation. An important tip here when asking for permission is to ask the individual if they are willing to provide a positive reference. This will hopefully reduce the likelihood of a negative reference, which does occur!
When requesting for an individual to serve as reference follow Applicant Request for a Reference from the Purdue Online Writing Lab. You want to ensure that your reference is up to date on your educational background, skills, career aspirations, and is provided with the position description or link to the position. This ensures that they will be able to more adequately speak about the skills desired for the position in reference to your skills to that potential employer.
What Goes into a Reference Letter?
(Estimated time to complete: 14 minutes)
Review Reference Letters from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College as well as WikiHow’s How to Write a Reference Letter for specific information on what is included in a reference letter. Being knowledgeable of what goes into a reference letter will guide you on how to select a reference and what type of information they will need to be able to provide you with an excellent reference.