A good reference helps an employer learn more about your skills, work ethic, and experience, and strengthen your application for a job or internship.
Choose someone who knows you well and can speak about what you bring to the workplace. This could be an instructor, advisor, supervisor, volunteer coordinator, coach or club advisor.
Avoid using family members or friends as professional references.
Always ask permission before sharing someone’s name and contact information with an employer. Let your reference know what you’re applying for and give them information that will help them speak about your qualifications.
The job or internship description
Make sure you have their current contact information and remember to thank them for their help.
References can speak about things they have personally observed, such as your reliability, communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, work ethic, projects and technical skills.
Western employees cannot share protected educational information, such as grades, GPA, transcripts, schedules, student IDs, or disciplinary records. However, certain programs and employers require students to sign program-specific consent forms related to background checks, workplace learning experiences, clinical placements, internships, apprenticeships, or employer-sponsored training. Where such authorization exists, designated Western employees may exchange information with approved employer or placement partners, including performance and eligibility-related information, consistent with the student's signed release and applicable privacy requirements.
Career Services can help you prepare for your job or internship search.