References and Your Network

Abstract

Long before you start interviewing, you should be building your network and finding good references. Whether it is for your first job or your twentieth job, employers are likely to want to hear from your references. Good references can do anything from simply proving that you worked somewhere to providing references for your good character, work ethic, and skill level. Even for your first development job, it can often be very worthwhile to have a number of good references to vouch for you. In this chapter, we’ll discuss the process of networking and getting good references. A good network is both helpful for finding job opportunities and for finding people who can serve as references.