A good reference is an individual who has had a chance to observe you in situations relevant to the jobs for which you’re applying. They must have prior knowledge of your professional experience, be in a position where they can comfortably and accurately evaluate you, and be willing to give frank and honest answers despite their relationship to you.
Alternatively, a few types of references to avoid:
- A friend who is trying to do you a solid and vouch for you. We are looking for professional references who can directly speak about their experience working with you and your work product. Avoid using friends from college or professors; save them for character references if requested.
- A former colleague/manager who is not comfortable giving you a good recommendation. Not every boss will have nice things to say about you. Weed out those individuals before submitting them.