OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES 
           
       REFERENCES AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION 
        
       References are people who can be contacted by potential employers to verify your work history and to inquire about 
       the quality of your work on jobs or in classes.  References are almost always checked before you are offered a job, 
       except in the most informal of hiring situations.  Usually potential employers want to talk to your references by 
       phone; other times, they may ask to read letters of recommendation.  Here's what you need to know on the subject 
       of references: 
        
       Selecting references: References can be former or current employers, internship supervisors, or professors.  They 
       should be people who know you and your work well enough to comment on it and should be people who will speak 
       highly of you.  When getting a reference from a job or internship, choose someone who was in a position of authority 
       over you and who viewed your work firsthand.  Don't, for example, use the company president as your reference 
       unless that person worked closely with you.  Also, do not use co-workers in positions equal to yours as their 
       objectivity may be subject to question and their opinion not as highly valued. 
        
       You should not use relatives as references, but in some cases it might be appropriate to use an old family friend as a 
       reference.  If the family friend works in the field in which you are applying for jobs and knows your personal qualities 
       well enough, they can be a valuable reference. 
        
       Prepare a reference list: Type a list of at least three current and/or former employers or professors who have agreed 
       to be contacted as references.  Put your name, address and phone number at the top of the page as you would on 
       your resume, then type the heading "References."  List your references’ names with corresponding job titles, 
       company/ organization names, addresses, phone numbers, the dates you worked with them, and your professional 
       relationship to them.  Keep copies of this list on hand to give to prospective employers when they request references.  
       Some job announcements ask you to send references with your resume.  In most cases, however, you will not be 
       asked for references until after you have interviewed and are being considered for the job.  It is imperative to contact 
       all the people on your list to let them know someone may be calling and to remind them of the work you did for 
       them.  You can also send them your resume to further refresh their memory, a copy of the job description to help 
       them tailor their comments, your cover letter, and any specific details describing how you are qualified for the job.  
       They may also be a good source of additional job leads.   
        
       Deciding how many references to have on hand: Typically, three to five references are required when you are being 
       considered for a job.  In informal situations, fewer references may be requested, and in more formal situations, 
       prospective employers may ask to speak to (or receive a letter from) all past employers.  If certain past employers 
       cannot be found, that is fine, simply omit them from your list, or indicate why they cannot be reached (e.g. "company 
       closed").   
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
        
        
        
       Updated 6/17 
        
                                                                                                                                                   
                            Getting letters of recommendation: Ideally, you should request a letter as soon as a job, internship, or class ends, 
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                            but you can also contact former employers or professors whom you may not have talked to in a while.  When asking 
                            for recommendation letters, it is a good idea to give some guidelines for the letter, either in writing or when talking 
                                                                                    OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES 
                            to the references.  Remind them of your job duties and point out any successes or accomplishments you had on the 
                                  
                            job or in class so that they will highlight all the important points in their letter, especially the skills relevant to the job 
                            for which you are applying.  Sometimes you may be asked to write a draft of the letter for them.  Although this may 
                                INTERVIEW TYPES 
                            seem very awkward, it happens more often than you think.  This is a great opportunity to take an objective look at 
                                 
                            your performance and write a solid letter of recommendation.  Remember, you should be honest, but it's no time to 
                                Screening Interview: The screening interview does just that—screen out candidates whose qualifications 
                            be modest! 
                                don’t meet the job specifications.  The first interview is typically conducted by a human resources 
                                professional and will probably focus more on your resume and qualifications than anything else. 
                            As a courtesy, it is always good to let your references know the outcome of any interviews for which they were 
                                Screening interviews may be conducted in person, by telephone, or by video conferencing (see Telephone 
                            contacted.  Be sure to thank them for their help even if you don’t get the job. 
                                Interview and Video or Skype Interview sections). 
                                 
                             
                                            Articulate your skills and what you accomplished at each previous job experience.  
                                 
                                Second Interview: Second round interviews are often more difficult to prepare for because their purpose 
                                is more subtle—to determine which candidates will best "fit" with the company.  Second interviews may 
                             
                                be comprised of behavioral and competency-based questions (see Behavioral Interview and Competency-
                                based Interview sections). 
                                 
                                            Ask questions about the work environment. 
                                This stage may also include reference checks and testing. 
                                 
                                Case Study Interview: Consulting firms and certain financial institutions may include a case study or 
                                word problem based on a real-life or simulated consulting situation as part of their interview process.  In 
                                this instance, the interviewer will present you with a case study and ask how you would approach and 
                                solve the dilemma at hand.  The interviewer is simply trying to determine your analytical abilities through 
                                this interview method, so try not to get flustered!   
                                 
                                            You can usually ask relevant questions in your efforts. 
                                            There are a number of online and hardcopy resources available through the Office of Career 
                                             Services to help you prepare for these types of interviews. 
                                            It is also imperative to be part of a student study group and practice together since these interviews 
                                             are very demanding. 
                                 
                                Behavioral Interview: In these interviews, the interviewer will ask you to talk about a real situation you’ve 
                                encountered and your response to that situation.  A sample question could include, “Tell me of an 
                                incident when you failed,” instead of a hypothetical question such as “How you would handle a mistake or 
                                failure?” The employer assumes this will be a good indicator of how you would handle situations in the 
                                future.  
                                              
                                            Stay calm and answer the question as completely as you can, using the SAR formula as your guide: 
                                                      o  S – What was the situation or problem that you were presented with? 
                                                      o  A – What action did you take?  (Specifically highlight the skills used.) 
                                                      o  R – What were the results of your actions?  (Be specific and quantify results when 
                                                                         Office of Career Services | 420 West 118 Street, Room 420, New York, NY 10027 
                                                              possible.) 
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