Sometimes the person who interviews you for a job will ask only for the names of one or two people as references, and sometimes you will be asked for a letter or two of recommendation. In either case, the opinions expressed by those who give you a recommendation can be the pivotal points on which your interviewer may base a decision as to whether or not you get the job you are applying for.
If you are using just a name as a reference, permission to use it should be obtained in advance. If your references are in the form of letters (whether written by you and submitted for signature, or written by the reference), each letter should be properly signed and contain the address and/or telephone number, so that your interviewer will know that the letter is bona fide and the person who signed it can be reached conveniently.
In the course of preparing your resume, in whatever form, you can decide how and from whom you can obtain letters of recommendation, or who will give you permission to use their names as references. This information about references can be useful in applying for credit, as well as in trying to find a job or m changing positions.
In this busy workaday world, one can't always be sure that the person you have given as reference will follow through. He (or she) may be too busy to reply to an inquiry about you, or may just neglect to do so or have other reasons for not cooperating. In anticipation of such an unfavorable situation, the following procedure is suggested: Write your letter(s) of recommendation yourself, and then submit it for signature to your reference. Each letter should be different and each should mention those characteristics about you with which the person who is signing is familiar.
To give an example: The manager or foreman where you work (or have worked) knows your qualifications as a worker and the kind of duties you performed. Or your pastor or priest or rabbi may know you as a civic-minded person who undertakes civic or welfare activities voluntarily. The letters from them for which you request a signature should mention these activities, as should a letter from an executive of your chamber of commerce or your bank whom you might know, or who might know you. Each letter of your portfolio should be short, to the point and should stress a different aspect of your personality and your work abilities. The signer should be told that the letter was written to save his or her time, and that any changes or suggestions would be welcome.
The following is a representative list of people to approach. There may be others, whose references should be in your favor. You would do well to obtain as many letters of reference as possible, even though you may not use them all:
- Personnel Director or executive under whom you worked.
- Foreman of your work.
- A teacher, or a professor from a technical institute, a vocational school, or a college.
- A librarian of your company or of your community library who knows you have done research and like to read.
- A member of the police department. If the applicant lives in a large city, a character reference from the precinct's sergeant would be important.
- A professional person-your doctor, dentist or lawyer.
- Several businessmen, if possible.
- The proper official, if you belong to a chamber of commerce.
- A responsible executive of a social club or welfare organization to which you belong.
- The family doctor.
- Your bank officer. (You don't need to mention the total of your account.)
