You should never, ever think the references you supply while applying for a job don’t matter. They do. Not only is a good reference letter standard part of the application package, but it also provides employers with some basic information about you. When seeking letters of reference, there’s a few things you really need to keep in mind.
It’s important to carefully consider all of your connections and make sure you’re getting letters of reference from the best possible people. Not everyone will good reference, some of your options will be a great deal strong than others. Choosing two or three people to write a recommendation could be harder than you thought.
Obviously, you should only ask friends, co-workers, and acquaintances you’re on good terms with for letters of reference. There’s no point in asking your former friend who hasn’t spoken to you in three years because they’re upset you totaled their truck. The more the person you’re using as a reference likes and respects you, the more glowingly they will refer to you.
You will be able to further narrow down your list of potential references by eliminating the names of family members. The rule of thumb when it comes to applying for a job is to never, ever use your family as your reference. Most employers simply won’t believe family member can provide an unbiased opinion of your attributes and qualifications for a job. You need to stick to people with whom you share a life, but not genetic, connection to.
Now you need to look at the list and try to come up with the names of people who already have a direct connection in the field your applying. For example, if you’re applying for a job working at the local cooperative extension office, you should ask for letters of reference from people connected to either the university managing the program, or who happen to heavily involved with local and statewide 4-H programs. Employers checking references will respect and trust the information they get from people connected to the industry. If you don’t have any one directly connected to the industry, you should look for professional type people with whom you’ve either worked with, or volunteered alongside.
Throughout the course of your life, it’s likely you will apply for many, many different jobs. Some college graduates have fill out more than a hundred different job applications before landing their very first post-college, professional job. Each of the jobs you apply for will have different traits. A personal reference that works well for one job, might not be suitable for another. Career experts advise that you take the time to create a kind of letter of references portfolio, which will give you a variety of choices, making it possible to pair the best reference with each job. You should plan on providing the contact information of four different people who will be willing to talk about your attributes each time you apply for a new job.