By: David Ross
As students and alumni work on their resumes for job and internship applications, it can be easy to overlook generating a list of references. At some point during the application process, candidates will be asked to provide references who can speak to a candidate’s capabilities and potential. My last blog posting on creating a list of references provided some recommendations on how to proceed – here are a few additional tips:
– During your initial contact with potential recommenders, be sure to indicate what types of positions you are applying for and industries you are interested in – it can be very helpful for recommenders to know what aspects of your background and skill set to emphasize to potential employers
– When drafting your list of recommenders to submit to a recruiter, include their current position and employer along with contact information. You may want to indicate your current or former working relationship with each recommender
– Once you have secured a position, be sure to thank your recommenders for their assistance. Continue to keep in contact with them periodically after you have started your new position to maintain your professional network – you never know when their assistance may be helpful in the future