2008 Woodie Awards
The Senior Column
Stephanie Hanisak
Issue date: 10/23/06 Section: Life & Times
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References are a Must!
An important part of both the job searching and grad school processes are references. Many employers ask for at least a list of references, if not some recommendation letters as well. Most grad schools require one to three recommendation letters. Along with your resume, references require time. Students need to take time to compile a concise list of relevant and professional references. After compiling this list, it is important to ask them to write letters well ahead of when they are needed.
A reference list should include three to six different people who can positively display your qualities that relate to the place of application. References should not be friends or relatives, but rather they should be people that know you professionally, academically, or through community involvement. Previous employers, professors, academic advisors, organization advisors, and community service acquaintances make good references. After listing their name, include their title, company, relation to you, phone number, business address, and email address. Place the references in order by how well they know you, with the first person on the list being the one that knows you the best. Make sure to ask references before using them. What if they do not remember you or do not think they can give a good reference? These people need to be able to do those things.
After compiling a list, it is important to ask for the person to write reference letters, which are just letters of recommendation. When asking for a recommendation letter, it is a good idea to meet with the respective person rather than sending them an email. At the meeting, discuss what the letter will be for - whether it is for graduate school applications, an internship at a magazine, job at a bank, etcetera - and what you are hoping the letter will include. Make sure to ask the person if they think they can write a letter. Then once they agree, give them a copy of your resume, either a stamped or unstamped envelope, and allow them a few weeks to complete it.
An important part of both the job searching and grad school processes are references. Many employers ask for at least a list of references, if not some recommendation letters as well. Most grad schools require one to three recommendation letters. Along with your resume, references require time. Students need to take time to compile a concise list of relevant and professional references. After compiling this list, it is important to ask them to write letters well ahead of when they are needed.
A reference list should include three to six different people who can positively display your qualities that relate to the place of application. References should not be friends or relatives, but rather they should be people that know you professionally, academically, or through community involvement. Previous employers, professors, academic advisors, organization advisors, and community service acquaintances make good references. After listing their name, include their title, company, relation to you, phone number, business address, and email address. Place the references in order by how well they know you, with the first person on the list being the one that knows you the best. Make sure to ask references before using them. What if they do not remember you or do not think they can give a good reference? These people need to be able to do those things.
After compiling a list, it is important to ask for the person to write reference letters, which are just letters of recommendation. When asking for a recommendation letter, it is a good idea to meet with the respective person rather than sending them an email. At the meeting, discuss what the letter will be for - whether it is for graduate school applications, an internship at a magazine, job at a bank, etcetera - and what you are hoping the letter will include. Make sure to ask the person if they think they can write a letter. Then once they agree, give them a copy of your resume, either a stamped or unstamped envelope, and allow them a few weeks to complete it.
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