Dear Aunt Martha,
Applying to jobs has been a long process, but I’m almost done with round one! I have one last barrier before being able to get my dream job: asking for references. I have past professors and employers in mind whom I named as references for a summer internship that I did two years ago, but I haven’t really been in contact with them for a while. Do I need to ask for their permission to name them as references on my latest applications?
Sincerely,
Anxious Applicant
Dear Anxious Applicant,
That’s wonderful to hear that you are near the end of the first round of your job search journey! Congratulations! And yes, you should absolutely ask your previous references a second time whether you can name them on your most recent applications– not doing so could be construed as disingenuous. You mentioned that you haven’t been in contact with your references in a while, and since I consider keeping in touch to be a valuable form of networking, I’ve broken down how to not only ask your previous references for assistance, but how to keep in contact with them as well!
How to ask again for a reference:
- Always start the email off by asking how the other person is doing before jumping into updating him or her about your life. Update your reference on what you have accomplished since the last time you spoke with him or her. For example, “Since last summer when you kindly agreed to write my letter of recommendation, I have since finished my internship as a research assistant at Weill Cornell and have started my job search for full time employment.”
- After your life update, ask if they would be willing to help you again by serving as a reference for this job.
- End your email by thanking him or her for their time and help.
How to keep in contact with references:
It may seem daunting to continue networking with your references, but it is standard procedure, and sometimes even expected! Simple updates such as “I’ve recently started my second semester of Senior year and am super excited to take classes in ________,” can be sufficient. Other more detailed updates that include a mutual connection are often a nice touch: “I’ve started a new project in my studio class that applies what you taught us in [class name]! It is centered on ______, and I’m really excited about this project because it has implications in __________.”
These short, simple updates, are an important step towards helping you establish a professional network. So don’t be afraid to start updating your references on your professional life because they will be a crucial source of support for your future career development process!
Warmest regards,
Aunt Martha