Career Services

 

Requesting References

General Directions for Requesting References:

  • Ask the person you wish to serve as a reference if he/she is willing to do so
  • Ask the writer of the reference to
    • Use business, agency or university letterhead
    • Use letter quality printing
    • Sign and date the reference
  • Agree on a deadline by which each reference writer will get your letter of reference to you.
  • You may want to request two originals — one to carry with you and to use for making copies and one to keep in a safe place.
  • Provide a business envelope addressed to you and stamped so the reference writer can put the completed letter in the mail to you.
  • If an employer requests an authorization from you, you may use the Reference Request Form

New Graduates/Seniors Only: Complete the front side of the Reference Request Form, including the authorization, before you give it to a faculty member or an
on-campus work supervisor who could write a favorable letter of reference for you. You also may pick up a copy of the Reference Request Form in Career Services, CMU 114.  If you have completed an internship, be sure to include a letter of reference from the Internship Supervisor whose direction you were under at the work site.

Additional Tips:
If a prospective employer requests a specific number of references, it is often
three (3). If it is corporate policy to not provide letters of reference, check with the Human Resources office at your place of work to get the phone number to call as  prospective employers may wish to verify job title(s) held and dates of employment.

Some supervisors may not be willing to provide a letter of reference, but may be willing to serve as a telephone reference. If you believe that supervisor (current or former) would provide a telephone reference supportive of your candidacy, add that person’s name, title, work relationship to you, company name/address and phone number with area code to the list of references you create. Share that list with prospective employers when references are requested during the job search or whenever you believe it would help you get an interview or the job offer.

Keep your letters of reference up-to-date during your career. Many employers do not believe that letters of reference that are more than three to five years old have any value in determining the kind of employee you would be. Keep a file of all of your letters of reference so you will be able to make them available if a prospective employer should request them to review your pattern of accomplishment.

If a person is unwilling to serve as a reference for you, it may be because they do not feel they know enough about you, and the work you are capable of doing, to provide a meaningful or true reflection of your capabilities.

You likely will find that all of the prospective employers you meet with/apply to may not require references as part of the job search process.