Asking for a reference and other tips

One of the articles on Indiana Career Connect, entitled "10 Steps," includes some helpful ideas on finding and being successful at a job. While we've talked about most of the steps already, the article is worth reviewing because it also includes links to other services on the site that can help with career planning.

For example, under #2 Finding the Ideal Job, are links to job openings and local employers. If you click through that link, you will find several tabs from which to choose. Selecting "Employer Search by Occupation" allows you to begin by searching under occupations and allows you to drill down to specific employers, including addresses, contact names, and other details.

The Indiana Career Connect article includes tips on resume, cover letters, and, one of the most overlooked areas of preparation: references. The article talks about how to select references and how to ask for letters of reference. As an instructor, I am often asked for the latter from students. Here are my when asking for this type of reference:

• Including a little reminder to the instructor can be helpful, even for a general letter of reference. Consider the types of behavior and accomplishments in which a potential employer might be interested and translate that into activities you did in class. For example, you might ask an instructor to speak directly to a particular project you worked on in class, or how involved you were in group projects or discussions. 
• Remind the instructor what class you took with him/her and when. Even at Ai, where instructors get to know students very well, we can sometimes forget which classes you took with us. While we can look this up, it's not the same as you providing a few reminders of the experience to refresh our memories.
• Tell the instructor if the letter of reference is for a specific position and provide the contact information and address so that it can be included in the letter. If it is a general letter of reference, it can be addressed: To whom it may concern.
• Ask for these letters of reference BEFORE you leave school, while the memories of your faculty are fresh with their experience with you. 

The article ends with #10 So now you've got the job, which I think is a key point that is often overlooked in a job search. Essentially, you are still trying to create a good impression your first few weeks at a new job. You've heard the old adage about how first impressions are lasting ones, but it is especially true at a new job or when you take on a new position at an existing job. Consider the kind of reputation you want to establish for yourself and specifically how that reputation can be established and reinforced.

You might want to consider that last question in your Assignment B. What do you want your reputation to be? What kinds of behaviors, characteristics, projects do you want associated with your name? In other words, how will you brand yourself? Build that into your plan of action.