Selecting references
- Choose individuals who will be able to accurately describe your current performance and potential, as well as your past performance.
- Include a mix of people, such as administrative staff and co-workers.
- Select people with whom your relationship was positive.
- Avoid using family members or other relatives as references, even if they are professionally qualified to do so.
How to Ask Someone to Be Your Reference
- Write a letter, call or meet with the person face-ro-face to politely ask for the person to be a reference.
- Explain to the potential reference the position that you are pursuing and have a conversation with her/him about your past performance and experience with them.
- Email the reference a reminder request for the letter after asking him / her for the letter
How to Be Sure a Reference Will Be Positive About Your Qualifications
- Ask the potential reference if they feel comfortable serving as a reference for you, or if they would prefer you to choose someone else. Giving her/him the option of declining can provide you with useful insight.
- Ask people who work with your potential reference if the person has ever mentioned negative issues or concerns about you. Explain that you don’t want to put the potential reference in an awkward position, which will give the person you are asking permission to be more candid.
- Ask people who have praised your performance in the past, and with whom you have kept in touch
- Don’t ask people who are unhappy with their current job or have proven to be unreliable when asked to perform tasks for you.
- Don’t ask people who may feel would be jealous of your job search or who may be competing with you for the same job.
Hint! Maintain contacts with past co-workers and supervisors. You never know when someone will have the connection you need. An ongoing relationship will make it easier to ask for help.
Ways to make life easy for your reference
- Make your request as far in advance of the deadline as possible.
- Remind your reference of your past experiences, accomplishments and why you are interested in the position and feel it will be a good fit.
- Provide a copy of your current CV for their use.
- Clearly communicate the name, title and address of the recipient, the title of the position for which you are applying, and the deadline for the completion of the reference letter.
- Provide a polite “gentle reminder” about the deadline 2 weeks in advance, via phone or email. Inquire if another the reference would like to have a follow-up reminder.
- Send a thank you letter to your reference.
- Update your reference about your job hunting progress from time to time, regardless of the outcome of a specific application.
What to Do If Told to Write Your Own Letter For Your Reference’s Signature
Writing a reference letter about yourself and having your reference sign it should be a last resort. Try to renegotiate:
- Explain that you feel uncomfortable about ghostwriting your own reference and ask them politely to reconsider.
- If she/he is the only reference to suggest this approach, mention this.
- Offer to provide some bullet points with highlights of your experience in working together.
- Offer to provide a sample reference letter as a model.
If unavoidable, state only facts about your past job responsibilities and duties, accomplishments, and awards. Do not state anything personal.
Seek another reference who will write her/his own letter.
