References can be divided into two main categories by purpose: academic and professional. An academic reference is typically a formal letter of recommendation for an academic job, a scholarship, or a ...

Despite how much has changed in terms of how we search for jobs (we’ve come a long way from paging through the local newspaper’s classified ads section) and the hiring process now being largely ...

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR ...

In the not-so-distant past, serving as someone's job reference meant answering a few questions over the phone. Nowadays, that process is often more involved, with prospective employers asking ...

Job references are important for the employer and the potential employee. Employers typically use references to make hiring decisions and a lack of them can hurt your chances of getting a position. It ...

When you apply for a new job, you need a polished resume, a perfected cover letter, and a list of job references who you trust to speak to a potential employer. Some employers may ask for references ...

What should I do if I don’t want to be someone’s reference? If you don’t have anything nice to say, your best bet is to avoid hurting someone’s future employment chances. A job seeker’s guide to ...