References

Selecting references is a critically important part of your job search.  Choose individuals who know you well and who can attest to your skills and work quality.  A combination of work supervisors and faculty provides a good balance.  Other individuals to consider include university staff members who know you well, community leaders, and directors of civic organizations for which you volunteered. Listing relatives or friends is not recommended. Employers generally don't contact personal references because they don't expect them to be objective or able to provide specific examples of how your skills are a good match for the position they are seeking to fill.

Before you list individuals as references, be sure to ask their permission!  Having positive and effective references can be very important to getting hired. Give your references a copy of your resume so they have it on hand to review when speaking to prospective employers about your background and skills.

If an employer indicates they will be checking references soon, contact your references to give them a "heads up" along with any specifics about why you are a good fit for the job.  If it has been a while since you first asked individuals to be a reference, touch base with them and update them on any recent activities and accomplishments.

Sample Format for References

Ms. Mary Doe
Vice President
ABC, Inc.
123 Industrial Drive
Burbank, SD  55522
(605) 555-1966

 Mr. John Jones
Shift Supervisor
XYZ Company
234 Main Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-xxxx

Dr. Antonette Logar
Chair and Associate Professor
Mathematics and Computer Science Dept.
501 E. St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-xxxx