From the course: How to Leverage References, Recommendations, and Referrals to Advance Your Career
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What's the difference between references, recommendations, and referrals?
From the course: How to Leverage References, Recommendations, and Referrals to Advance Your Career
What's the difference between references, recommendations, and referrals?
- Most of the time people refer to recommendations, referrals, and references almost synonymously, but there are some key differences to keep in mind in terms of how you use them. I like to think of them as breaking down between your past, present, and future. References are really all about your past. A reference is someone who's willing to confirm what you did, when you did it, and how you did it. A good reference might come in the form of a former boss or a colleague who can confirm your employment history, and really vouch for your past performance. They're someone who's willing to speak to a prospective next boss whether it's over the phone or via email or through an employer's applicant tracking system. Recommendations, on the other hand, are more focused on your present capabilities, skills, and offerings. They tend to take the form of a more formal written letter of recommendation and tend to be written…
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