References

What is the University’s policy on references?
Requests for reference letters are to be made directly to faculty members. Faculty members must respond conscientiously to requests from students or former students for references.

Are employment references provided by the Career Development Center?
Employment references are not provided by the Career Development Center. There is an exception for persons who graduated before 1996, when a different policy was in effect.

What is a reference?
A reference is a person to whom inquiries are made as to your qualifications, character, commitment, and suitability when you have applied for professional employment, volunteer work, fellowships, scholarships, and the like. A reference is also the statement that a person makes about your qualifications for the appointment you seek.

Do I list my references on my resume? What about on an application?
On your resume, it is best to say that references will be supplied or furnished or are available on request. (TIP: Listing references on your resume is a waste of too much space and does not allow you to tailor references for a particular position.) If you are asked on an application to supply references, you should do so.

Whom should I ask to be a reference for me?
You should ask people who:

• Know you a long time and know your personality and character
• Know your educational background and academic abilities/aptitudes
• Know your employment history, abilities/aptitudes, work ethic, work style
• Have prestige because they are known to the entity to which you are applying or are known in the field
• Represent an array of ways of knowing you

(TIP: Supply your references with a copy of your resume so they are fully familiar with your background.)

When should I select my references?
It is in your best interest to supply these after you have been interviewed, or when you know some detail about the appointment you seek, because you want to:

• Be the first to describe yourself to the interviewer
• Get a sense of the opportunity so you can select appropriate references
• Inform your reference accurately about the position, describe the opportunity and why you want it, suggest points the reference can address and advise him or her on what aspects of your personal or professional history or character you would like addressed or emphasized
• Give reference a sense of the interviewer’s style
• Ask the person for permission to use them as a reference
• Alert the reference that an inquiry about you may be mad
• Limit the number of inquiries made to each reference

How many references should I have?
Usually you are asked to give three references.

How do I submit references?

• Submit reference information written or verbally. Be sure to give correct spellings of names and street addresses, titles, phone and fax numbers, and accurate information as to availability. (TIP: If possible give an explanation of what the reference can speak to about you. This gives you some control over what might get discussed.)
• Take a list of your cadre of references with you to the interview in case you are asked for references right then, and make appropriate selections from your list based upon what you have learned in the interview. (TIP: Be sure you have or can secure the reference’s permission to be contacted.)
• Have one to three people on board who have carte blanche to respond to inquiries about you without explicit permission from you.

How are the references about me given?
References are usually provided by letter or over the telephone.

• If a letter is required, your reference may ask you to write all or part of it. (TIP: Send a polished draft and do suggest the reference edit.)
• If reference sends you a copy of a letter of reference about you, save it for your records.
• If there is to be a telephone call, advise both parties of any unusual pronunciations.

Should I get some “To Whom it May Concern” letters from my professors and supervisors?
“To Whom it May Concern” letters are okay as far as they go. Some references will want to do a “To Whom it May Concern Letter” so you do not have to request a new letter in each instance, saving you both time and effort. Written performance evaluations by supervisors may sometimes be used as a substitute reference. Personalized references are always best.

What about after references are submitted?

• Check to see the entity that made the inquiry received the reference.
• Let your references know the outcome and thank them.