References

Your references are people who know you and can tell an employer about you.

For your work search you’ll probably need at least three professional references—people who have worked closely with you in employment or volunteer settings. If your work experience is limited, you may need to use personal references—people who can vouch for your character but haven’t worked with you.

Your references should be people who:

• know you well enough to answer specific questions about you and your work
• can recommend you without reservation
• have good communication skills, especially on the phone (many employers check references this way).

Do not list your references on your resumé. Instead, use a phrase like References Available Upon Request. Bring a list of references to the interview.

How to ask for a reference…more

Are your references unavailable? Is it going to be hard for you to get a good reference? Find out how to handle these situations…more