College Grad Job Search - References

Table of Contents

References
What you need to understand about references:
Suggested Reading - Job Search:
Thank You Letters
Why you should send a thank you note
Thank You Letter Examples:
Suggested Reading - Thank You Letters:

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Graduation may be just around the corner. Or maybe you’ve already graduated and are looking for a job. Whatever the reason, you should be prepared to have everything you need for your job search.

Job search for recent college grads is a bit more challenging than for those who have several years of experience. Any help you can get that puts your application at the top of the pile certainly helps. This post focuses on References and Thank You letters, both of which are key components of any job search.

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References

Most, if not all hiring managers will ask for references during the hiring process. Your references should be “pre-screened”. This means that your references are on board with providing positive references. The worst thing you can do is to give a reference without speaking with them first (or knowing what they will say about you).

Any advice you can get during your job search that puts your application to the top of the pile certainly helps.

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What you need to understand about references:

Most, if not all, employers ask for and check references.
Ensure you’ve asked your references if it is okay to use them as references.
Do you know if they will say positive things about you? This is obviously key.
Ensure your references know when you’ve given out their names as well as the detail on the company and position.
Your references should preferably be former managers/supervisors or other individuals who are familiar with the work you do.
Keep a list of references (5 or more would be ideal). While a company generally asks for two or three references, you may want to pick and choose based on the opportunity.
Have all of the details on your references handy. This includes title, the company where they work, their phone number as well as an email address.

“Resume and experience in the world but if you don’t execute it doesn’t really matter.” – College Grad Job Search – Are You Prepared?

Thank You Letters

You may think that thank you notes are “old school”, but they are not. While a generic thank you note is a waste of time, a targeted thank you note can make all of the difference in you getting to the next round in your interview process. What, exactly, is a “targeted thank you note”? A targeted thank you note is a note that lets the interviewer(s) know that you listened during the interview (by repeating some of what you discussed) and it’s your opportunity to remind the interviewer why you are the best person for the job.

Why you should send a thank you note

Demonstrate that you have social skills.
It’s the opportunity to showcase a skillset (writing) that is important for most jobs.
It provides an opportunity for you to express your interest in the position
It allows you to show appreciation for being considered.
You can use your Thank You note as an opportunity to add something you may have forgotten to say or ask.
Following up with the hiring manager keeps your name current. It’s important that you remind the hiring manager that you are interested in the job.

Photo by Nathaniel Shuman on Unsplash

Thank You Letter Examples:

Free Sample Job Interview and Career Thank-You Letters – This article provides a list of sample thank you letters. The list includes General letters, letters that stress fit, letters that focus on damage control (yes, there are letters for almost every occasion), job fair interviews, and more.
Job interview thank you letter examples – This article is from monster.com and shows an example of a thank you letter format.