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How should I ask someone for a job reference?

Is it acceptable to seek out a reference from someone in the past?

  • I am applying for an internship and I want to ask someone to give me a reference. However, I haven't been in contact with them for two years. We parted on good terms. Is it acceptable for me to ask them for a reference still? If it helps, it is an internship with a political party. He is a politician that I volunteered extensively with during campaign time. He offered me a job two years ago but I was travelling so I was unable to take it. He would be a perfect reference, but I don't know if it's all right for me to ask after two years of no contact. If not, how do I find references? I'm self-employed so I don't have any work references. I go to school but I'm not close to any of my professors.

  • Answer:

    Also, he's a politician. Their entire careers are based around transactions like this one: "Hey, remember that time I helped you out? Well..."

cyml at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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If it helps to hear: I was once approached by a roommate who hadn't talked to me in 3 years because he'd used me as a reference when he was applying for an apartment in a co-op, and wanted to make sure that was cool. It was indeed cool, and I didn't think it was weird at all.

EmpressCallipygos

Heck yeah. 2 years is nothing. A few years ago I called up the parent of someone I went to high school with, hadn't talked with him in two and a half decades, and he was happy to spend an hour and a half on the phone chatting and helping out.

straw

I think it's fine. I've had people ask me for references years after the fact. One thing you might want to do to make his life easier is include a little bulleted list of the things you did/learned/managed while volunteering with him. It's nice to believe that he'll remember exactly why you were so awesome, but it never hurts to give a little assistance. That will also help ensure you get a more detailed reference than just a vague "cyml is awesome."

missjenny

...but I don't know if it's all right for me to ask after two years of no contact. If you helped this dude out to the extent that he offered you a job, then, yes, of course contact him. You might have to jog his memory a bit, but I can't imagine what reason he could have to not give you a hand.

griphus

This is fine. Remember, however, that you should remain similarly willing to give references, advice, and networking help when people reach out to you in the future.

Area Man

Yes, absolutely. If you parted on good terms and he is likely to remember you or at least to be able to be politely reminded who you are, then you are totally fine on that front. There's not really a statute of limitations on references, although all else being equal more recent references are better. Two years is not a long time at all though, most people don't go through jobs that fast and so are likely to have a reference or two that is a few years old.

Scientist

Yes, totally. I have written letters for people who interned for me 5 years prior, and when I went to grad school, I got a letter from one of my undergrad profs from 8 years earlier.

spindrifter

People like to help, as a general rule. You have nothing to lose here.

thejoshu

If you don't ask you don't get. Send a friendly note asking and see what happens.

koahiatamadl

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