Writing Reference

I'm all for asking for reference letters when you're about to finish your contract. Getting a reference letter now rather than waiting until later has it's benefits. First, your boss will be more likely to remember details about your position. Second, your boss is still there. If she/he moves on, you could easily lose contact. Third, you're still working there and can remind your boss. Let's face it, our employers are busy and might forget.

However, if you've left a job and didn't get a recommendation letter, don't worry, it's not to late. You can still request one. You might have to remind your boss about details, such as when you worked there or what your responsibilities were.

Whether you're still working at the institute that you're requesting a reference letter or you have moved on, there are essential pieces of information that every reference letter should include. It might help you to give your boss the template below. Sometimes you may be asked to help your boss write your reference letter, this is especially common if English isn't their first language. Just follow the template below.

Asking for a reference letter Dear (Name)

My name is (name) and I worked at your institute (dates) as a (job title). I am currently applying for a position in/at (country or institute). In order to apply for this position I must submit reference letters and I would like to know if you would be able to write a reference letter for me. If possible, could you please include two copies- one for my application and one for my personal records. I understand that you are very busy and have included a template to help you. I greatly appreciate your help with my application. Thank you so much for your time to get this done quickly.

Sincerely, (Your name) (Your postal address so they can snail mail you the letter)

What a reference letter should contain This is the basic information that a good reference letter should contain. You might want to give this information to your boss to make sure that they include everything.

Sharon de Hinojosa (naturegirl321) has lived and worked in the US, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, and Peru. As well as teaching short-term in Venezuela and Taiwan.

She has created TEFL Tips which has information for teachers from writing a CV, to giving a demo lesson, learning the local language, teaching tips for the classroom and more.

Since living in Peru since August 2004, she wrote The Ultimate Peru List. With 80 pages it's a comprehensive guide for those living in or moving to Peru.

Do you ever have any of these problems?

Have you ever started to write an essay and found that you were staring at a blank screen and a flashing cursor? Did you feel like you were starting from scratch?

Have you ever started writing an essay and found that you could not remember some of the information you read? Or tried to put a reference in and could not find the page number of the quotation you were using?

Is your research usually scattered all over the place, in the form of books, photocopied pages, bookmarked websites and some notes? Do you find it hard to create an essay out of disorganised research?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then learning how to create and use a research document can help! If you organise and record your research properly, you should never have any of these problems again.

How can you organise your research?

Your research should be organised so that the transition from doing your research to writing your essay is simple. The best way to do this is to organise your research so that it matches the organisation of the essay. In Step 2 of writing an academic essay, you would have written a rough essay plan before you began your research. This essay plan is the guide you need to use to organise your research.

Copy and paste this essay plan into a Word document. All your research for this essay will be recorded in this one document. Use each of the dot points from your essay plan (topics you are planning to discuss) as a heading in your research document. When you do your research, you will organise it in the order that the information will appear in your essay. Doing this means you will be organising your research by theme or topic, not by source.

This means that you will not simply record all the information from one source together and then go on to type up the information from your next source underneath it. If you do things that way, you would need to go back and re-organise your research later, into the correct order for your essay. That would be a waste of your time.

Why should you record your research (instead of just reading or taking a few notes)?

If you do not record your research properly, you can spend hours, days or weeks doing research, and then when you start to write your essay you will find that you have to go back and re-do things, like search for page numbers or correct quotations. You must record your research in a way that makes essay writing easier for you. It should be accurate, include all the information you need, and give you a chance to record your own ideas and thoughts on the material you are reading as you go along. Do not leave this until the end.

Instead of just taking notes when researching, a better and more efficient way to research is to critically arrange and organise material by typing out all the important information you find. You do not need to type out everything, just the critical, relevant and important information for your essay. Then you can add your own notes. (Make sure you use punctuation marks so you can see what is a quotation and what are your own words.)

There are a few important reasons for why it is better to type out sources word for word in your research rather than only take notes.

1. You do not have to remember everything you have written, all the important material is written down. 2. When you begin writing your essay you will have all information you need to make accurate direct quotations. 3. You will not make the mistake of writing something in your essay that you think you have thought of yourself, but is in fact something you are remembering from a book word-for-word. 4. You still have the opportunity to write your own notes about the sources as you go along, and develop your own ideas. But you will do this in a way that makes it clear what is from the book, and what are your own ideas.

How should you record your research?

You must record the following information from your sources:

1. Reference information about the source you are using 2. The subject or topic of each paragraph you type out (to help organise your ideas) 3. The exact wording of the source (using punctuation marks to show you are quoting) 4. The page number of the information you are typing up 5. Your own ideas and thoughts about the material you are reading

While you are doing all this, you can be working on your reference list at the same time. Each time you begin reading a source, type up all reference information into your reference list straight away. One good way of setting out your research is as follows:

The topic/subject of the paragraph 'The exact wording of the source/paragraph that you are typing up goes here, using punctuation marks so you can see that you are quoting' (Put the reference information here, the way you would in an in-text reference: Surname, Year, Page number). [Your notes and ideas go here. Your own words go in square brackets and do not have punctuation marks, so you can easily see what are your own words and what words come from the source.]

So for example:

The number of people killed during the Spanish Civil War 'The number of people killed during the Spanish Civil War is very difficult to ascertain. It was probably over one million people. Many people went "missing" and were never found' (Nash, 1989, p. 61). [This is very interesting information since it shows that the number of people killed could be much higher than was originally thought.]

How can you develop your essay plan while you are researching?

All the decisions about what will go into your essay and in what order are made at the research stage, not at the essay writing stage. This is a common mistake made by students who do not establish enough of a connection between the two stages.

At the beginning of your research, you started out with your rough essay plan as a basis for the headings in your research document. As you go along, you may add more headings or sub-headings to your research document. For example, you might find that there are three sub-topics under the first main topic that you wish to discuss, and so you will create sub-headings for them. The information under these sub-headings will eventually become paragraphs in your essay.

As you conduct your research, you must critically analyse the information that you find. Change your sections around in order of importance. Decide what information should be included and what should not. All these decisions should be made at the research stage, so that by the time you come to do your writing you know exactly what you will be writing about and in what order, down to each paragraph. You will have in front of you exactly what information needs to be used in each section and paragraph of your essay. This also means that you will never feel like you are starting from scratch or have nothing to go on when you begin writing your first draft.

Dr. Lisa Lines
Director and Head Editor
Elite Editing & Tutoring

Web: http://www.eliteediting.com.au and
Blog: http://www.eliteediting.blogspot.com

Our PhD qualified academic editors will professionally edit your essay, assignment, thesis or dissertation. We provide an online service for high school, college, university and postgraduate students worldwide. Our professional editors are waiting to help you improve your grades. Submit your document for editing today.

You have spent weeks writing your resume, you have dusted it off, you have finally perfected it to be the resume that you can be proud of and totally represents your best qualities. You pat yourself on the back, and start handing it out to the select companies you wish to be considered for. Everything is perfect, until you get that phone call from Joe... your best friend in high school, whom you have not seen for years, maybe decades, and he phones you to tell you, some guy, from some company, phoned him, asking if he could recommend you for a job position, and what he knew about you... and Joe... sounds totally confused! You gut lurches, because you spent so much time dusting off that old resume, making sure it was perfect, forgetting you still had your old references from years ago. You wonder what this guy has told this potential employer, and now you may have lost your credibility for that job. When writing a resume, remember, references are the final key for an employer. They have read your resume, and like what they read, and vision you working for their company, and what you will bring to the table in terms of experiences and education. Then they talk to Joe.... and its all over before it started. You may be lucky, and they try one of your other references, but chances are, if you have Joe... on there as the first reference, your second one is probably just as bad! Update your references, include only qualified people who know you and your work, and would highly recommend you. Ask them if you can use them for a reference, and make sure you keep up to date phone numbers for them, that way there are no surprise phone calls from the likes of Joe... that catch them off guard as they try to remember the guy they last saw at the college party!.

click here for tips on getting your resume noticed, make it stand out and get that job. Article and website by Diane Palmer

Most people don't give much thought about references until after a potential employer asks for them. After all, searching for a job is very time consuming and doesn't give you much of a chance to think about anything except getting interviews. But reference checks are a very important part of the job search process: both for job seekers and for employers. For employers, references are a chance to add depth to the information they have learned about you from the interview and from your resume.

At a minimum, your references should confirm the information the employer has about you and that you are a competent employee. However, you should strive to provide references who can be as enthusiastic about you and you would be about yourself. A great reference makes the hiring manager feel good about their decision to hire you and sets a positive tone for your first few days on the job. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression and your references can help you do that.

Getting Your Ducks In a Row

It's a good idea to get a reference letter from your manager as soon after leaving a position as possible. Getting a reference letter right away makes it easier for your manager to recall specific contributions you made to the team. Even if you don't end up needing a reference right away, having the reference letter provides you with something to fall back on in the event you are unable to contact your former manager at a later time. Plus, if you decide to go back to the manager a year or more later to ask them to provide a phone reference, you can remind them about the reference letter they wrote for you.

Before asking someone to take the time to write a reference letter or provide a phone reference, it's a good idea to get a feel for what they would say about you. One way to do this is to say "Do you feel you know me well enough to write a good reference letter?" instead of just "Could you write a reference letter?" This way, if the person doesn't feel they could say something positive, they have an easy way to decline your request.

Employers who ask for references want to confirm dates of employment and position titles at a minimum. They will also try to find out if your former boss would rehire you given the opportunity. And many employers will ask the reference to grade your abilities in the specific areas that will apply to your new job. For example, if you're applying for a job as a manager, the employer may ask your reference to rate your managerial skills on a scale from 1 to 10. Having a sense of the types of questions employers are likely to ask your references, you should try to gauge the potential reference's response to these questions before deciding to let them vouch for you. For example, you could say "I'm curious - if you had the chance, would you hire me again to work for you?"

Using Non-Employer References

If you don't have a lot of good references from former employers, non-employer references can be helpful too. Generally, a potential employer will want at least two references from former employers. But if they require three references, you may be able to provide two from former employers and one from someone else. Professors, former co-workers and customers can all be good references if they know you well. If you have a choice between providing three lukewarm references from former employers or two lukewarm references from former employers plus one glowing reference from someone you didn't work for, the latter is probably the better choice. A survey done by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) found more than eight out of ten human resource professionals regularly check references, so don't count on an employer not contacting a lukewarm or bad reference.

Legal Issues

There are a lot of misconceptions about the legal issues surrounding reference checks. Some job seekers mistakenly believe that former employers can only provide dates of employment, position titles and salary history. Even though many companies have established regulations specifying that managers are only to confirm dates of employment, position and salary history, many managers are either unaware of these regulations or simply ignore them. Legally, an employer can provide as much information as they want about your tenure with their organization.

As long as a former employer does not knowingly provide false information in a reference check, it is fair game. An employer can legally say or write negative things about you if they are just opinions. For example, the employer could say "John was a horrible manager." What is not legal would be for an employer to knowingly provide false information. For example, if a former manager didn't like you, they could not say "John started a fire in our office building that caused thousands of dollars in damage" if it was not true. Regardless of the legal rules, you do not want your references to say bad things about you. There are companies that for a small fee will call your references and provide you with the results. If you suspect a reference you're using is saying unfavorable things, you may wish to consider using a reference checking firm. Alison & Taylor is one of the leading companies in this market. To find out more about them, visit this link:
http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/at.htm

Illinois May 30, 2004 -- Author of On The Net Resource Guide for Writers is offering publishers, editors, literary agents, and other writing related website owners the chance to become a part of the second edition of her writing reference book. Your listing in the book is free of charge, and it also helps the author add to her next edition. In addition, you will not only help the author and promote your website free to thousands, but you will also be helping writers find you.



The first edition of On The Net Resource Guide for Writers was published by Virtual Bookworm Publishing Inc. in 2002, and it was published under the name of Misti Jackson. The first edition is still in the markets today, and is still selling copies. Over 500 resources made up the first edition of this book, and the author hopes to make her next edition even bigger.



To find out more about On The Net Resource Guide for Writers, and also to submit your website for consideration into the second edition visit the author's website at http://www.mistijackson.bizhosting.com. If you have any questions about the book or wish to speak with the author directly before submitting your website you may contact her by postal mail, phone, fax, or email.



Newsletters, ezines, and websites are free to reprint this press release in their publication as long as it is reprinted exactly as it is here, and the author asks that if you reprint the press release in your newsletter, ezine, or on your website that you contact her and let her know where it has been reprinted.



Contact: Misti Sandefur

Author & Book Reviewer

Phone 618 672 4386

Fax 618 672 4386

RT 3 Box 255

Harrisburg, IL. 62946

msks04@shawneelink.net

If you are sending your CV to a perspective employer by post or
fax it is essential that you send with it a covering letter. You
need to use the covering letter to create a good impression so
that the employer or recruiter will want to read your CV. It
will have more impact if it is individually written in response
to a particular role or advertisement.

In the case of email applications it is acceptable to write a
brief paragraph of a few sentences explaining where you heard
about the role and why your qualifications and experience are a
perfect fit for the job. You should ensure the tone of the text
is formal as would be the case with a paper covering letter. It
is a mistake to be too informal as this can be seen as
unprofessional.

When making any sort of job application either Speculative,
where you are sending you CV to an employer/agency with no
specific vacancy in mind or, specific, where you are sending
your CV in response to an advertisement for a particular role,
the overall covering letter format is the same.

Here are the top ten rules to remember when writing a covering
letter. 1. The covering letter should consist of 1 page on plain
white A4 paper. 2. You should use a font that offers a clean and
clear appearance. Arial is best 3. Aim for a maximum of three
paragraphs. Remember simple is best 4. Use upbeat and positive
language and avoid exaggerated statements 5. Ensure there are no
spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes. 6. Always use black
ink. 7. Express yourself with confidence. 8. Where possible,
write to a named individual 9. Covering letters should be
tailored specifically for each application 10. Be concise and to
the point. Try to avoid repeating what's in your CV.

Covering letter format

Your contact details This should include your name, address,
telephone number and email address if you have one. Remember
make it easy for the employer to contact you.

Employer/agency details This should include whom the letter is
going to, company name and full address. If you know the name of
the person e.g. if it is mentioned in the advertisement then use
it. If no particular name was mentioned use a department title
e.g. Personnel manager or Managing director

Date You should use long date format in full e.g. 27th April
2006 and not 27/4/06

Salutation & Opening If you know the name use it e.g. Dear Mr
Smith. If you don't know, use Dear Sir/Madam. It is preferable
to use a name. The company's web site is often a good place to
search for the appropriate individual.

Letter title Centre and bold the text. This will enable the
addressee to know immediately that this is an application

Paragraph 1 - Why you are writing You want to try & get the
interest of the Employer. You should start the letter with the
reason for writing and indicate the position that you are
applying for along with how you heard of the vacancy. This is
also a good place to tell then why you are interested in the
position and convey a genuine interest in the company. The
company website will be a good source of background information.

Paragraph 2 - What you can offer them Here you describe briefly
why you think you should be considered for the role. You should
summarise relevant qualifications for the position along with
your experience and skills. Also give a brief example of one or
two jobs you have worked in that relate to the position. Try to
make sure that it is not just a list of what is in your CV but
is individualised to the job application.

Paragraph 3 - Summarise and next step Refer to your enclosed CV
and also ask for the interview. You may at this point suggest
that you will be making a follow up call. It is also important
that you thank the reader for their time and consideration and
tell them that you look forward to hearing from them.

Closing Use "Yours sincerely" if you are sending the letter to a
named person, otherwise use "Yours faithfully". Add a few blank
lines and finish with your name. The space between is used for
your signature once printed.

Finally you may want to add your telephone number and email
address beneath your name. Remember you want to make it easy for
them to contact you.



E & O E - Copyright 2005 CV
Writing

Writing-World.com's Guide to… Paying Markets for Fiction and Poetry - More Than 675 Publications That Pay for Your Work, by Moira Allen (book review)

Writing-World.com's Guide to Paying Markets for Fiction and Poetry by Moira Allen, is more than just a book of data for writer's submissions. The author includes only paying markets of periodicals (E-zines, magazines and a few newspapers). The author created a highly valuable section entitled "About this Guide", that explains what each section of details listed under the publications means. She even goes as far as describing the various rights that are often required by periodicals. I learned within the first 17 pages that I had been addressing envelopes incorrectly for international shipping by placing the country in mostly small caps beside the state or province. And what a surprise that was for me - I had no idea there was a protocol for shipping out-of-country! This important chapter also discusses common issues and problems with email and online submissions. Moira's discussion on literary magazines was also very informative and interesting.

Listing markets for short stories, poetry, fiction, fantasy, horror, Christian, adult and many other genres from romance to mystery - this book is sure to help authors market their books and freelance writers sell their articles. Author Moira Allen, goes a step farther and sub-groups markets into smaller categories, such as Children/Christian and Flash Fiction, to make the selection easier for writers.

Reference books like these tend to be dry and boring to read, but Moira's book is written personably - which is difficult to do when listing data. Each listing has numerous helpful tips and information including what kind of material the publication accepts submission for, what the publication's pay rate starts at, what rights are requested and contact information (including emails and website URLs).

This book has definitely found a spot on my writer's reference shelf in my office!

Publisher: Writing-World.com
Available at: http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml