Signing Savvy, Your Sign Language Resource

Today applications for new jobs are increasingly offered exclusively via websites. With social media and our entire lives online most employers know quite a bit about you, including your reputation and writing skills, before they ever meet you face to face.  References have also become more important as references are sometimes the first people that interviewers speak to. 

Are you representing yourself well? How do you decide who to ask for a reference?

Here are 5 tips for laying the foundation for your job hunting and finding a good recommender:

1. Connect with Others

• First impressions matter. Put your best foot forward.
• Be personable and establish bonds with colleagues.

2. Represent Yourself Well Online

• Who you are online reflects how people see you in person.
• Don’t put anything on FB you aren’t proud of.
• Go through your Facebook and delete anything (pictures and words) that gives you pause.

3. Send Professional Messages

• Keep emails professional and purposeful.
• Put thought into each email you send.
• Re-read your emails before hitting “send.”

4. Choose a Good Recommender

• Be realistic in assessing your relationships.
• Choose people you respect and who respect you.
• Be sure the person you ask has a good reputation themselves.

5. Communicate with your Recommender

• Contact your references before you put them down.
• Be positive, respectful and grateful to the person writing you a letter of recommendation.