Recommendation Letter

During your job search, a prospective employer may request a list of references prior to or during an interview. This request may take the form of a response to a written job application, a question on a company application or as an addendum to your resume. Your reference sheet should list the names, addresses and relation to you for each reference.

As a courtesy, you should get in touch with the people you wish to include on your reference list and ask permission to use their names. This contact will allow them to prepare adequate answers to questions about you so they will not be caught by surprise when prospective employers call or write. Also, those contacted can decline you permission, if they wish. You may find it worthwhile to reintroduce yourself to the people on your list, particularly if you have not spoken to them for a while. The suggestions below will be helpful if you need to write a letter to contact your references.

What do you include?

· Reintroduce yourself. Be sure that your reference remembers the situations the two of you were involved in.

· If you have not spoken to your reference in awhile, it is extremely important to provide a summary of your most recent qualifications and experience.

· Be sure to let the reference know where you are in your studies. List your year in school, your field of study and possibly your career aspirations.

· Formally ask to use the person as a reference and state how the reference will be used.

· Be sure that the reference understands that if you do not hear from them you will assume they do not mind being used as a reference.

· Include a copy of your resume.