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Identify Your References

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A good reference is someone who will confirm and even add to the list of skills and accomplishments that you noted in you resume. Be prepared to provide a minimum of three professional references and one personal reference. Choose people who have known you for at least one year -- preferably three or more years.

Your list of professional references should include a combination of the following:

• Former or current supervisor
• Former or current colleagues
• Former professors
• Contacts you have made doing volunteer work or participating in professional organizations

Your professional references do not have to work in the industry that you plan to work in. The only prerequisite is that they know you well, and know details about your work history and professional/personal accomplishments.

Your personal references are people who have known you for a long time, and can vouch for your character. For example, friends with significant professional accomplishments make ideal personal references. Contacts you made doing volunteer work can be used as personal references if you already have enough professional references.

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