References

What are they?

References are people. They are people who can and will say completely wonderful things about you as a person and as an employee. They are not the companies that you have worked for.

Why are they needed?

Employers know that over 60% of people lie on their resume. References are an opportunity to learn more about you as a person. People who serve as references are often very open with the information they share. Employers can learn a lot about a candidate by what the reference does and does not say.

How does a person get references?

This is the best part - you get to pick who you want as your references. You need to find three to five people who will say great things about you. It’s very important, however, that you ask people if they are willing to serve as a reference. This is important stuff and they need time to think about you and prepare what they will say. It would be really nice if you could provide them with a copy of your resume, tell them where you are applying, and let them know what kind of jobs you’re interested in. Ask them if they have enough nice things to say.

Who makes a good reference?

You should have two sets of references, personal and professional. Each set should include three to five people.

Good personal references are long-time family friends, coaches, team members, people you have volunteered with, and members of organizations that you are affiliated with. The important part is that they will talk about how nice you are, how easy you are to get along with, and how it is a joy to be in your presence.

Good professional references are instructors, past and present employers/supervisors, select co-workers, and internship supervisors. You are looking for people who can speak to your technical ability to perform the job duties. Professional references will talk about how quickly you learn new tasks, your attention to detail, and how they would hire you again if they had the chance.

Family members should not be used as references.

What about letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are wonderful and should be kept as part of your portfolio. They can be forwarded with your application material also. However, they cannot stand alone. Even if you provide written recommendations you will still need to provide a list of references that a potential employer can contact on their own.

For more information on any of the services or events contact Career Services at (217) 234-5288 or e-mail Career Services.