Gathering References Professionally
Preparation. The word comes up constantly, and for good reason. It is the key to success, no matter what that success looks like. Think frequently about what may be coming next: positions, projects, etc. On the subject of preparation, take this crucial advice: Gather professional references constantly as you gain experience. Building a wide and useful network is crucial work, but it’s work we are entrusted to do alone. Nevertheless, it has an inarguably profound effect on our futures.
Whenever leaving an organization, or when your time there seems to be approaching its end, reach out to mentors, peers, or managers to ask if you can use them as future references. Make this request while you both still have daily contact, while your accomplishments are fresh in their minds. Finishing a class? Don’t leave on your last day without asking your professor if you might enlist their name for a future application. Collect references constantly. If you are to receive an offer in the future, or come across an enticing application, you will already be prepared with names and praise. Not to mention, the quiet display of respect that a reference request communicates will often help individuals remember you long after you’ve left their daily lives.
But keep in mind that, when it comes time to formally ask someone for a reference, you are asking them to do you a favor. Thus, it’s your job to make the process as convenient as possible. Ask them what is the best time for an employer to reach out to them, and also what is the best medium. Don’t forget to communicate some information about the position you’ll be interviewing for. Ask if they have any questions or need any supplementary materials. Give your references ample time to consider what specific strengths of yours they will discuss.
Then, when providing the name of a reference to an employer, indicate the exact dates you worked together (or were connected), where, and what was the nature of your professional relationship. This information, and the professional sphere in which your references work, should accurately match the experience on your resume. Do not overlook any of these things: every piece of information, be it on your resume or from the mouth of a reference, reflects on your candidacy.
Finally, sending thank-you-notes to your references is non-negotiable. Besides simply being the right thing to do, you might very well need them again, and it’s important to acknowledge your gratitude for the time they took to speak well on your behalf. It’s an old, harsh cliche, but nobody owes you anything. Providing a reference for someone is a reflection of your relationship and of your care for their future. Do not take this care for granted. Do not feel entitled to it. A reference is doing a special thing for a person who has impacted their life. Communicate your gratitude. Make the extra effort; write the extra sentence; send the extra note. It’s worth it.