You will want to have several different people on hand who will vouch for you as far as your character, your work habits, your work ethics, and your general value and worth as an employee and person.

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You will want to have a minimum of three references and no more than five. At least one of these references should be a personal reference who is not a relative. It can be a friend, a co-worker, or an acquaintance. The others should be work or school references.

The first rule of thumb for references is to ask the person first if you can use them as a reference when applying for jobs. As long as you have a good relationship with them, most people are happy to oblige for you and give you a glowing recommendation.

The purpose of a reference sheet is to have a list of people who can verify and elaborate on your professional experience for a potential employer. Past employers, professors, and advisors are the best professional references to have.

It is important to have a reference sheet because potential employers will often ask for a list of references they can contact. If you included a statement such as “References Available upon Request” on your resume, you should be able to produce a reference sheet as soon as one is requested. In any case, having a reference sheet will save you time later on during the interview process.

Make sure to include people who know what type of person you are and who are familiar with your work. It is important to select individuals who know your distinctiveness so that they can provide a positive and accurate description of you to the employer or company in which you are seeking employment.

You should ALWAYS contact your references before including them on a reference sheet. It is also a good idea to give them a copy of your resume and talk to them about the job you are seeking so they will know how to best represent you.

When you are listing your references, you should include the following information:

• Your name
• Your present and permanent address(es)
• Your reference person or persons’ information, which includes that person’s:
  • Name
  • Department/Company
  • Title/Position
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Brief statement as to how you know this person.

It is not required to include the last part – the statement as to how you know this person, but it can help. That way if a potential employer does check your references, they know why you wanted to list them on your reference sheet.

Another very important part of the job application process is the cover letter that you will include with your resume.

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