Requesting References for Internships, Employment, and Graduate School

References are usually required for internships, employment, fellowships, residencies, and graduate and professional school. Generally, you will be asked to give three individuals who can attest to the skills you want to highlight for the opportunity.

Who should serve as a reference?

When asking someone to serve as a reference, it is important to choose those who are familiar with your abilities and have worked closely with you and can speak positively about your fit for the position.

Professional References can include:

• Clinical Instructors
• Faculty mentors
• Supervisors (past/present)
• Colleagues

Professional References for Graduate/Professional School

These programs may ask for a letter of recommendation while others may ask for contact information for each reference so that an online evaluation can be sent to them.

Read the requirements carefully as some programs may be very specific regarding the type of reference that must be submitted such a certain number of references from a faculty member or a supervisor who can talk directly about your academic background or scholarly study.

References should NOT be family, friends, or peers. If you must choose between several people who know you well, select those who observed you in positions most related to the prospective job.

Preparing your references

• Always ask permission from your references BEFORE you use their names and give them ample notice (2-3 weeks). Ask if they are comfortable providing a robust and supportive recommendation and ask EVERY time you want to use them for an application.
• Provide guidelines: copy of your resume/CV, position description, or prompt if it is a reference for graduate or professional school, as well as specific skills or qualities relevant to the role and which you would like them to highlight.
• Ensure you have current contact information (i.e., name, position, organization, email, and phone number). Prepare them in advance by sharing your current resume/CV, cover letter, and position description, as well as a few notes about why you think you would be a good fit for the position.
• Employers may check references in writing by emailing a form to be filled out by the candidate's references. References may also be checked over the phone with the prospective employer filling out the form during the call.
• Reference questions may cover candidate employment dates, responsibilities, salary, reasons for leaving, strengths, weakness, attendance record, performance/contributions, attitude, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Therefore, you should prepare your references by providing reminders of times when you contributed positively to the workplace or classroom.
• Be sure to thank your references after the selection process is complete; it is always best to maintain a strong, ongoing, and professional relationship.

Additional note

References are generally requested and checked after a successful interview and just before offering you a position. Often a potential employer will request a list of 3-5 people you have worked with as references. References can serve as a final confirmation of your skills, abilities, and verification of positive on-the-job performance. Bring a copy of your reference list to your interview so you have it if asked.

Create a References Sheet

Once your references have given you the greenlight to share their contact information, prepare a references sheet, which is a separate document from your resume/CV but should share the same formatting and heading information. You may be asked to upload this document to an admissions application for graduate school, or the potential employer’s hiring portal. Having this document formatted, updated, and prepared in advance will help you move through your application with more ease and confidence!

Sample Reference List

Personal Contact Heading (Formatted the same as you have on your resume)

Name
Job Title
Employer
Relationship to candidate
Email and phone number

Name
Job Title
Employer
Relationship to candidate
Email and phone number

Name
Job Title
Employer
Relationship to candidate
Email and phone number