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References
You do not need to provide references until the employer asks. You do need to be ready to supply the references following the interview, if asked. In most cases, an employer will ask for two references.
Who Can You Use as a Reference?
- A previous employer or supervisor (the more recent the better)
- A professional who can speak about their experience working with you
- A teacher/professor/supervisor who provided oversight for an activity or event that you helped with
- A coordinator/supervisor for a volunteer activity you undertook
- If you do not have any work experience or any extracurricular experience from your time at university, think about people for whom you’ve done some casual work in the past (child care/ life guarding/ gardening/ helping a family member with projects or tasks/etc…)
- Your references should be people who will provide positive recommendations
- It’s a good idea to contact your references in advance to let them know you are providing their contact information to a potential employer
- Do not use a family member or someone who is not a legitimate reference.
What will the employer ask the reference?
Usually the employer will confirm the type of relationship (eg. employee/supervisor/ etc.) The employer will often ask the reference to talk a bit about their experience working with you and whether you demonstrated some basic skills and qualities (responsibility, enthusiasm, work ethic, etc.)
