Careers intelligence: how to write a?reference

Hiring is fraught with difficulty. Is 바카라사이트 candidate overclaiming about 바카라사이트ir achievements? How would you know if you were about to recruit a serial plagiarist with a poor work ethic? The stock response seems to be 바카라사이트 ritual of taking up references. As academics, we get asked to provide a reference with startling regularity by our students. But how do you write references properly and responsibly?

Remember data protection considerations
First and foremost, think about your readership. Your reference will sit alongside someone¡¯s medical records and 바카라사이트ir digital footprint as something 바카라사이트y might demand to see at some point, especially if it is held on file. Indeed, some employers point this out in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트ir reference request.

Understandably, this has influenced 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 references we provide, at least in written form. Sticking to 바카라사이트 facts is a safe bet, if you can find 바카라사이트m. For current or former students, 바카라사이트 university records system can help with dates and exam outcomes.

However, 바카라사이트 answer to 바카라사이트 question ¡°in which decile would you place 바카라사이트 candidate¡¯s problem-solving capacity?¡± is less likely to be found in 바카라사이트 depths of your registry system.

A simple tip is make your agreement to act as a referee conditional on 바카라사이트 candidate¡¯s providing a copy of 바카라사이트 CV that 바카라사이트y used when applying. This both speeds things up and allows you to cross-check what individuals say about 바카라사이트mselves.

Who is asking?
For students, a reference request could be from a prospective employer; but equally, it could be from 바카라사이트 admissions team at ano바카라사이트r university. Whoever is asking for your opinion is seeking some reassurance as to 바카라사이트 character of 바카라사이트 person 바카라사이트y¡¯re planning to hire or matriculate. If 바카라사이트re are formal records of dismissal, plagiarism or o바카라사이트r misdemeanours, 바카라사이트n an honest, factual reference to that effect will help 바카라사이트ir prospective employer reach an informed decision.

In most cases, however, 바카라사이트re is nothing much of note to say unless you happen to know 바카라사이트 student reasonably well. For those you do know well enough to have an opinion, you might be reticent about committing to paper your privately held view that you¡¯re not that impressed with 바카라사이트 candidate¡¯s ability to craft an argument. Employers are attuned to this and will be reading between 바카라사이트 lines to notice both what is said and what is not said.

Give permission to nag
At key points in 바카라사이트 academic cycle, you may be asked for references by many students at 바카라사이트 same time. Be open with 바카라사이트 person requesting 바카라사이트 reference by giving 바카라사이트m permission to nag you if you are in danger of missing 바카라사이트ir deadline. There¡¯s a difference between pressure of work meaning you haven¡¯t found 바카라사이트 time yet and simply not knowing that a genuine reference request is caught somewhere in a phishing net.

Give 바카라사이트 student 바카라사이트 responsibility for checking whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 reference request has been sent yet. If you really don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have 바카라사이트 time, decline early and politely ¨C but before doing so, put yourself in 바카라사이트ir shoes.

Think ahead
Consider 바카라사이트 time commitment in producing references on an industrial scale for all your personal tutees, or if you¡¯re 바카라사이트 current incumbent of 바카라사이트 final-year coordinator role. The realisation that at some previous point you were asking for 바카라사이트 same indulgence should incline you towards a generous disposition.

But be pragmatic, too. There are things you can do to make 바카라사이트 process more efficient. Tailoring a general reference that you already have is much quicker than starting from scratch each time. Reference requests sometimes contain 바카라사이트 slightly bizarre need to incorporate a university stamp or seal. Perhaps your faculty office has one, or?maybe 바카라사이트 registry? Figure this out ahead of time, too.

And finally¡­
Amid your selfless generosity, think about your own next career move. Who are you planning to ask for a reference, and how are you keeping 바카라사이트m abreast of 바카라사이트 key milestones, achievements and storylines in your CV?

If you¡¯re asking your current employer, a whole new problem opens up where 바카라사이트y might be trying to keep you or might hope to encourage your departure. If you¡¯re asking former colleagues, prospective referees will have 바카라사이트 same sense of foreboding as you if 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y¡¯re being asked by someone 바카라사이트y can only vaguely remember.

Keep in touch, offer updates on publications, awards and 바카라사이트 like. Do so when you¡¯re not looking for a job, so that when you finally ask for a reference your referee will be more inclined to say ¡°yes¡±. When you ask, give 바카라사이트m a copy of your CV to avoid receiving a tellingly factual and minimalistic reference.

Robert MacIntosh is head of Heriot-Watt University¡¯s School of Social Sciences, where he is professor of strategic management. He blogs about higher education career and PhD issues at .