How to Ask for a Reference for a Job

How to Ask for a Reference for a JobHow to Ask for a Reference for a JobWhen you ask for a reference, both whom and how you ask for a job reference are really important. You need to be sure that the partie who is recommending you for employment is willing and able to give you a good reference. This is critical because your references can be what makes the difference in getting - or notlage getting - a job offer. In addition, you shouldnt give out anyones name as a reference without their permission. The individual who is giving you a reference needs to know ahead of time that they may be contacted regarding a reference for you. When References Are Required It used to be that every candidate who applied for a job was expected toprovide a list of references either attached to a formal cover letter and resume in an initial job application package or at a personal interview. A few conservative industries such as education, law, and academia still expect you to submit your reference s with your job application. However, not all do. It is becoming more of a trend that potential employers do not ask for lists of references (at least not in an initial application) often because they themselves have a policy not to provide references to their own employees. This has resulted from the fact that disgruntled job candidates who failed to land new jobs have sued their reference providers for submitting negative evaluations to the employers with whom they are trying to secure new employment. How To Ask For an Employment Reference If you are in fact asked to submit employment references, you can ask for a reference by phone or by email. Email can be a good way to request a reference because if the person isnt comfortable recommending you it can be easier to decline by sending an email message than by telling you in person. When you ask for a reference, dont just say Could you give me a reference? or Could you write a reference letter for me? Instead, ask Do you think you know my work well enough to provide me with a reference? or Do you feel comfortable giving me a reference? or Do you feel you could give me a positive reference? This way, your reference giver has an out if they dont believe they can provide a strong endorsement or if they dont have the time to write a letter or take phone calls from employers on your behalf. When the person you are asking for a reference replies positively, offer to provide them with an updated copy of your resume, to share your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, and to provide information on your skills and experiences so your reference has current and relevant information on your employment history and skills. Also, take the time to stay in touch and keep your references updated on your employment status. How to Ask for a LinkedIn Reference Its easy to request a recommendation via LinkedIns messaging system. When you request a recommendation, ask the person to recommend you if they can and if they have t he time. This way they have an out if they arent interested in giving you a reference, are precluded by company policy from giving references or dont feel they know you well enough to recommend your work. Heres how to ask for recommendations on LinkedIn. How Many References to Ask For On the average, employers expect a list of three references, so have at least three or four references ready to recommend you. The extra one is handy, just in case the prospective employer cant reach the others in a timely manner. Create a Reference List Once you have your references set, create a reference list with the names, job titles, and contact information for each of your references. Print the list to bring to interviews and to send to employers who specifically request references with your initial job application materials. Do not send unsolicited references, though, to employers who dont ask for these. You dont want to take the risk that a) a reference might not have written a glowing review of your work or b) the new employer dislikes and/or doubts the reliability of the reference himself. The best place to present references is at the end of a personal interview after youve already acquired the employers interest solely on the basis of your strong resume and professional background.

10 Jobs That Pay Over $100k Let You Work From Home

10 Jobs That Pay Over $100k Let You Work From Home10 Jobs That Pay Over $100k Let You Work From Home Sometimes a dream job isnt about what you do but where you work- in other words, for some, a dream job is one you can do from the comfort of yur couch. If you dream of a job that lets you work from home , youre in luck. Weve found 10 open jobs that offer remote work opportunities- and bonus, they all pay at least $100,000. (If that doesnt motivate you to apply today, we dont know what will.) Read on to find out more about these jobs. Glassdoor Salary Estimate $111,000Brief Description Be the primary point of contact for Professional Services with select Ping delivery partners, overseeing engagements delivered for those partners and assisting with partner enablement. Responsibilities to include schedule and budget oversight and risk/issue management. Some travel (less than 50%) is expected in this role however the majority of work will be performed remotely , according to the job listing .Glassdoor Salary Estimate $225,000Brief Description Seeking full- or part-time, Physician Regional Medical Director to supervise PAs and NPs working in our Metro Phoenix area urgent care clinics, according to the job listing . Most supervisory duties can be performed remotely although some clinic visits are required. Seeking a physician with at least two years urgent care, ER or family medicine experience.Glassdoor Salary Estimate $109,000Brief Description As a product manager at Sittercity, you will be responsible for driving the product vision, planning, design and execution of innovative solutions that are rooted in user insight and data, according to the job listing . Your primary responsibility is the overall success of our product line, as well as helping set and execute its strategy. You will be an advocate for great customer experiences, championing on behalf of your users.4. Senior Business Analyst , Backstop Solutions Group LLCGlassd oor Salary Estimate $113,000Brief Description The Product Team is seeking a Senior Business Analyst to lead local and remote development delivery initiatives, according to the job listing . The ideal candidate has experience in the financial services sector or product management exposure with an equivalent balance of motivation to quickly learn the needs of our users.Glassdoor Salary Estimate $78,000-$112,000Brief Description The purpose of the Healthcare Solutions & Partnerships team is to help establish Boston Scientific as a leading Healthcare Solutions provider, according to the job listing . This is achieved by engaging in long-term partnerships with customers, providing them with services and solutions which are differentiated and tailored to their needs. Reporting to the Healthcare Solutions and Partnership Director, the core objectives of this role are to understand key customer needs from a solutions standpoint, architect the best possible solutions to fulfil the cust omers needs and design deals or projects aligned with the strategic commercial direction defined for the customer.Glassdoor Salary Estimate $125,000Brief Description The Regional Sales Director is a sales leader who inspires, drives and achieves a regional quota across multiple industries (runs a balanced business) through all sales channels, according to the job listing .Glassdoor Salary Estimate $130,000Brief Description InVision is a fully distributed company with employees in 25 countries around the world, says the job description . You love both new and interesting things but also things that are proven to work because youve been burned by the new and shiny before. You arent afraid to tackle any problem head-on with the support of talented people to help. You enable people to do their best and achieve things together they never thought possible. Because you care. Because you genuinely want to deliver something that people love.Glassdoor Salary Estimate $126,000Brief Desc ription Join our team of data scientists to solve challenging problems in the world of cybersecurity, according to the job listing . Ideal candidates will have an understanding of data analysis and machine learning techniques, good security intuition, and the ability to develop proof-of-concept solutions. Hands-on experience with a variety of machine learning algorithms, data cleaning and wertzuwachs measurement and tuning are all required. Candidates should be able to identify opportunities, formulate problems, work with security subject matter experts and other researchers to develop potential solutions and then build those solutions in order to test performance.9. Nurse Practitioner , Molina HealthcareGlassdoor Salary Estimate $136,000Brief Description Care Connections, a division of Molina Healthcare, seeks Nurse Practitioners to join its growing team which will contribute to the company mission to bring quality health care to the underserved, according to the job listing . The Care Connections NPs focus on screening and preventive primary care services delivered in the home, community and nursing facility settings. As a clinician, you will have the rewarding experience of providing needed care in the environment that patients feel most comfortable and are most receptive. This is a special opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable people.10. Remote Psychiatrist , Doctor on DemandGlassdoor Salary Estimate $273,000Brief Description Doctor On Demand is the transformative and leading national NCQA-accredited online medical practice where millions of patients access secure, fee-for-service video consults with excellent psychiatrists like you, says the job listing . Doctor On Demand was created by some of Americas best doctors, top companies and national TV leaders with the goal of improving patient access to high quality, conscientious and compassionate physicians.

Sending an Email to Request a Reference

Sending an Email to Request a ReferenceSending an Email to Request a ReferenceHow you ask for a job reference can be as important aswho you select as a reference for a job. You want to select references who can portray your qualifications in the best possible light. You may write a letter or make a phone call, but its often most convenient to send an schmelzglas message to request a recommendation for a job. How to Choose the Best References You probably know a lot of people who are willing to act as a reference for you and its a good idea to give some thought as towho will be the best at endorsing youfor this particular position. Its also vital to have alist of referenceswho will respond to reference requests in a responsive and timely manner. Professional referencesare a good choice, mainly because they have seen you in a corporate or work environment. They can attest to your work skills, and how you interact with colleagues and supervisors. They may even have a contact at your target company. Of course, there are times when using acharacter or personal referencemight be a good choice. If you dont have a lot of experience in your chosen field, or if your last supervisor wasnt your biggest fan, you may want to seek references from alternative sources. If someone you know personally has a contact at your target company, that can be very useful as well. Ask for Permission From the References After youve narrowed down your list of the best possible references for your job search, its time toask for permissionto include them as references. Its not a good idea to list someone as a reference on a job application if you havent asked them about being a reference for you. What to Include in the Email Message When writing to ask someone to provide a recommendation, be aya to reference your connection and explain why you feel they would make an ideal reference. Be sure to include your contact information, so they can easily get in touch if they need to ask ad ditional questions. Include a copy of your resume and details on the types of job youre interested in. This will provide the reference writer with some of the information they need to write an effective recommendation letter for you. The more information you can give the potential reference, the easier it will be for him or her to write a compelling letter endorsing your qualifications. If you need the reference by a specific date, be sure to mention It in your email. Give the person youre asking as much notice as possible. It can be time-consuming to write a good reference and you dont want them to have to rush to get it done. Writing Your Email Remember, people are busy, and most of us get tons of emails every day. Make sure the recipient knows this is a priority by utilizing the subject line of your email. Put your personenname and what youre asking for in the subject line of the message. For example, SubjectJeff Doe Reference Request will let the reader know who the message is from and what it is about, which will increase your chances of it being opened and read in a timely manner. Begin your request with asalutationand the persons name, followed by a comma or semicolon. On the next line, begin the body of the letter, where you ask for the person to be a reference. This is also where you should mention the nature and duration of your relationship, especially if the contact isnt one you are frequently in touch with. You should also provide some details about your job search, such as what the job is, why youre asking for their endorsement, and how this job is a good career move for you. To conclude, mention any additional materials you have attached, such as your resume and a copy of the job description or posting. Be sure to thank them for their time and consideration. Your emailclosingshould be followed by your name and contact information. Email Requesting a Reference for a Job Example (Text Version) SubjectPaul Katcher - Reference RequestDear Joan,I am in the process of seeking a new position as a software architect and am hoping that you will provide a reference for me.Having worked with you for many years, I believe that you can provide potential employers with information about my skills that will enhance my chances of getting the job.I have enclosed an updated copy of my resume. Please let me know if there is additional information that you would need to act as a reference on my behalf.Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my request.Regards,Paul Katcher555-123-4567paulkemail.com Expand Remember to Follow Through People generally like to help others and appreciation is always important. When someone agrees to give you a reference, make sure you send athank youmessage right away. Its important to let the people in your network know that you appreciate their support and that you are willing to reciprocate if asked.