Can i use my professor as a reference

A reference who fired you will either say nothing at all because they have nothing nice to say, or they will talk about how you were a terrible employee, Banul says. Sewell Development Corp. CEO Preston Wiley says his company hires a lot of part-time college students.

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These tips are designed to help you find people who can provide good, supportive references in support of your application s , and help you navigate the process of requesting a letter of reference. A professor you had for a course more recently and ideally had for more than one course in which you achieved a good grade is a much better option. You should choose someone that knows you reasonably well and will be the most likely to provide you with a good letter of reference.

If at all possible, try to approach someone working in a field that is closely aligned with the field in which you wish to do your graduate work.

When in doubt, approach someone who knows you relatively well through smaller classes or discussions. It is appropriate to initially contact a professor to ask about their willingness to provide a reference for you via email. Try to refresh their memory about who you are and suggest a face-to-face meeting. This meeting will help you demonstrate your energy and enthusiasm for graduate school or an area of research.

If a professor agrees to write you a letter, be sure to provide them with clear instructions and all the information that they will require to write it. Offer to provide materials to assist them in writing the letter, and try to be as specific as possible. Providing a copy of your transcript even just an unofficial copy and a CV is a good idea.

The more detail you can provide, the more likely the referee will be able to tailor the letter to the program or position to which you are applying. This should be common sense, but last-minute requests are a common complaint from professors who are asked to write many letters of reference. In some cases, you might ask relatively early, but fail to provide the necessary information to the professor in a timely fashion.

Approach the professor to ask for a reference as far in advance of the due date as possible; several weeks in advance would be ideal. You should dedicate some time to choosing who you use as references. Your references can make or break your job hunt efforts. Because your time spent in the classroom sets the basis for your professional reputation , your teachers are especially well suited to provide references about you—yet another reason to show up to class and do your best.

This means that their name may be recognized by potential employers. If you have them, extracurriculars are a great thing to include on your resume. This is the obvious choice for references. A former supervisor knows how you work under professional conditions, how you interact with both coworkers and clients, and what your best strengths are. Even if your previous job was in an unrelated field, work supervisors can provide valuable references about your professionalism and conduct.

If you can, absolutely include at least one workplace reference. No matter who you choose to be a reference, the most important thing is that you ask them first.