When applying for a job or internship, it is vital not to overlook the importance of your references. In this blog post, we will discuss who to ask to be a reference, how to ask someone to be your reference, and what information you should gather from your reference.
A reference is usually a past or current professor, a manager or supervisor, a mentor, or a professional colleague. It is highly frowned upon to ask family members and even classmates to be your reference for a professional position. You want to choose people who have experienced your work ethic, your knowledge base, your quality of work and who can comment on your suitability for the position. If you are applying for a job, choose a reference from an internship or a position that you attained during college. While not all job experience may be relevant for a position opening, you may use a supervisor or manager that you directly reported to during your time at a fast-food restaurant or a retail store, for example. Overall, try to avoid someone that you have had limited contact with for the last 2+ years. A lot can change in 2 years, and they may not even remember your contributions or your strengths/weaknesses.
When choosing a reference, you want to discuss the position and your future steps with them ahead of time. No reference wants to be surprised with an unexpected call from a company to talk about a subject without preparation. When applying for the position, think of the individual you want to include as a reference and reach out to them before submitting your application. Begin with an email, briefly describing the job opportunity and how their opinion of you may be useful (i.e., their experience supervising you or their experience working on a successful project with you). Include a copy of the job description or announcement and your current résumé. If it has been a while since you have talked with them, request to set up an in-person or Zoom meeting. There you can discuss any experience you have had since talking with them and how you would like them to be of assistance.
Once an individual has agreed to be your reference, request their full name (if you do not have it already), a good phone number (usually a work phone, not a personal phone), and a good email (again, usually a work email). Additionally, you will likely have to submit their occupation title, and what your relationship is with them (i.e., manager, professor, supervisor, etc.). Let your reference know when you are applying, and when they could potentially expect to hear from the company. Most often, if your initial interview is successful, the company will inform you that they are going to contact your references. This should not be a surprise to your references, as you have already informed them before you submitted your application.
By following these guidelines, you may be more successful in securing a job or internship and maintaining good relationships with past managers or professors. If you need any further assistance with choosing and navigating through references, please contact the Voiland College Internships and Career Services office, vcea.internships@wsu.edu.