My feelings are inconsistent when I receive phone calls from potential employers asking me about students.
Normally I am happy to give my students a glowing review. I do, after all, have great students.
But occasionally I am disappointed when I receive a call about a student who didn’t ask me if they could list me as a reference.
I recently spoke to a colleague who said this frequently happens to him. We agreed that this is a terrible idea on the students’ part.
Requesting to use someone as a reference is basically asking them to “sell” you to a potential employer.
I would hope that someone who isn’t confident in your abilities would refuse to represent you in that manner and would decline to be a reference.
If a less-than-stellar student asks me to be their reference, I usually remind them of the issues in our working relationship and then ask: “What would you like me to say about you to a potential employer?” By that point they usually have recognized that I’m not their best reference choice.
Putting someone on your reference list who hasn’t agreed to be “character witness” is basically playing Russian Roulette with your employment choices.
Colleen Eddy with Poynter online shared some additional tips on references in her column, References: Deal Maker or Deal Breaker. It’s an article students can benefit from reading.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
What do you say if you’re called for a reference about someone who didn’t ask you first? Students, how do you choose your professional references?
chattyprof says
Hi, Kenna… I saw this and had to respond. I totally agree with you, of course. I’m also starting to feel this way about LinkedIn. I’m getting requests from students who I haven’t seen in a long time. I think it would be appropriate for students to drop an e-mail first, offer a connection nugget (a time that they took my class, etc.), give me a little update on what they’re doing now, and then make a request to send an invite. What do you think about LinkedIn in this same regard? Thank you for writing about this… definitely coming into that time of the season, isn’t it? 🙂 Ellen @chattyprof
profkrg says
@chattyprof You know what your response reminded me of? Letters! It’s also the season where students want letters to apply for every dang thing in the world. This is fine, and I really don’t mind, but it really bugs me when students come in and need a letter the next day. It’s like they think I’m sitting in my office just waiting for them to give me a task. At the same time, I would hate for a student to miss out on an opportunity because I decline. Advice? Do you have any personal policies about this?
chattyprof says
@profkrg I think now is the time to tell them about your policy, whatever that is. It’s early enough where they can start to plan.
Make a blanket statement before class or send out an e-mail with your time requirement (two weeks or whatever), exactly what you want/need from them, and determine in advance if you want them to be able to see/approve the letter ahead of time (I always let students see what I’m writing–it kills me when they don’t respond or pick it up, though–that does happen). I think letting them know early is the key. Then, the policy is in place and if they don’t work within the timeline, then they’ll have to deal with the ramifications.
I get what you’re saying about the student missing out on an opportunity, but really, I say that getting that documentation in to us on time is part of work ethic :-).
profkrg says
@chattyprof True about the work ethic thing. I think having what they need the letter for and a copy of their resume to me a week before they need the letter is realistic, don’t you?
Perhaps I should post about it.
chattyprof says
@profkrg Hi, Ack! This got lost in my e-mail, but I’m actually linking to your post today in my post :-). I almost think a week is not long enough, but that depends on how complex the information is and how much else you have going on. I mean, if it’s at the end of the term and you have a ton of grading to do, a week may not be enough time. I usually like two weeks, if at all possible. Linking now… :-). Sorry for this delay!
BruceSallan says
Why would any one put YOU or anyone on their reference list without being ABSOLUTELY sure of what a potential employer would hear? That seems common sense 101, but CS seems as outdated as that rotary phone in your blog!
profkrg says
@BruceSallan It happens a lot. I think one thing is that students list me as a reference while they’re in school, and probably ask me then. Then, months or years later, they don’t follow up when they’re applying for a new job. I get calls out of the blue. Many times, I don’t even know what the former student has been doing, unless I’ve kept track on Facebook. I think it’s always best to call.