10 The Importance of References

An often overlooked facet of sports internships is the importance of references–endorsements from individuals who’ve observed your work during an internship. When potential employers contact these references, they gain insights into your abilities, work ethic, and performance. Having positive references validates the skills and experiences you’ve gained during your internship. It demonstrates that you’ve successfully applied theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Moreover, references provide credibility. When hiring managers see that respected professionals vouch for your abilities, it enhances your credibility. Another component that is crucial in the sport industry is trust. This is especially true when dealing with athletes, sponsors, and even fans. Positive references contribute to building trust with future employers. As has been the common thread throughout this book, networking is key to career development. References often come from industry professionals you’ve worked with or for. These connections can open doors to job opportunities, mentorships, and advice. Remember the saying “It isn’t just what you know; it’s who you know.” That is an incomplete saying. In the current competitive climate within the sport industry, the saying should be modified to say, “It isn’t just what you know, it’s who knows you.” As such, networking is a proactive activity, and you need to make yourself known by putting yourself out there and attending conferences, workshops, symposiums, and other networking events mentioned previously in this book. Additionally, references provide a multifaceted view of your performance. They may come from supervisors, colleagues, or even clients. Each reference offers unique insights into your teamwork, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

In general, there are three types of references that yield benefits. First are academic references. Professors or academic advisors can speak to your classroom performance and potential. Professional references such as supervisors, colleagues, or mentors from internships can discuss your work ethic, contributions, and growth. The third type of references are personal references such as coaches, community leaders, or other individuals like friends or family who know you well and can attest to your character. In terms of gathering the right mix of references, the most important thing when beginning is asking permission before you list them as references. Explain the context (e.g. sports internship) and ensure they will provide positive recommendations. Provide your references with relevant information about the internship, your role, and the skills you would like them to highlight and then also provide them with a copy of your resumé. Overall, remember that references are more than just names on a page. They are powerful tools and significant advocates that can drastically impact your career trajectory.

As it relates to best practices, “references available upon request” is an outdated phrase, and below are many reasons why you should avoid that phrase and actually list your references.

First, resumés have limited space and every word matters, including the phrase “references available upon request.” The phrase takes up valuable space that could be better used to highlight your skills, achievements, and experience. Employers are conditioned and assume that you can provide references if requested. Thus, this is problematic in two ways. First, explicitly stating it is unnecessary and redundant. Second, it then requires the employer to take an extra step to contact you to find out who your references are. Best practices suggest you save the employer the hassle of taking that extra step, and provide them with names, phone numbers, and email addresses of your references. Moreover, going through the process of listing references separately demonstrates your preparedness and attention to detail.

Another best practice suggestion is to create a separate document of references. You could send this list immediately or have it ready at the end of your resumé when potential employers ask for it. Both academic and professional references are considered the gold standard. Personal references, sometimes referred to as character references, are less common. You should use them sparingly and only if allowed by the employer. As a rule of thumb, you should, in general, use professional and academic references just in case you are unfamiliar with the hiring practices of the sport organization. Last and certainly not least, ensure that you have accurate details about each reference in terms of spelling their name correctly, titles, phone numbers, and accurately spelled email addresses. Aim for three to five references, but the quality of the references you list is ultimately more important than the quantity. Choose individuals who have seen your work or have had you in the classroom and can provide the employer with relevant insights into your work ethic.

Place your references section at the end of your resumé, after your work/internship experience and education. Choose references who can speak positively about your skills and work ethic.

You may be thinking to yourself, “What do I do if a reference I ask says no?” Stay calm. Take a deep breath. It’s normal for references to decline people occasionally. It may be that they are inundated with similar requests especially if they teach or advise many students, or have many students reporting to them. It may be they don’t feel they know you well or have not worked with you directly enough to speak to your skills. Don’t assume they don’t think you are or were a good employee or student. Second, communicate and find alternatives. Transparency is key. Call upon other contacts who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. Remember, as explained in Chapter 9, adaptability and resourcefulness are valuable traits. Adaptability in this sense allows you to pivot smoothly, whether it involves finding new contacts or adjusting your job search strategy. Resourcefulness allows you to tap into existing relationships. Maybe a former colleague or supervisor knows someone who can vouch for you, or perhaps a former professor. In the end, adaptability and resourcefulness in case a reference says no demonstrates the ability to handle setbacks and find solutions. Following is an example of a well-organized reference section on your resumé. You should begin with a clear heading such as References or Professional References. Align in the center or align to the left the heading at the top of the page. List each reference entry in a consistent format, and include the following details for each reference:

Name: Full name of the reference

Title/Position: Their job title or position

Company/Organization: The company or sport organization they work for

Contact Information: Include their phone number and/or email address

Layout Example:

References

John Doe

Director of Athletics
Rydell High School
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Email: john.doe@rydell.edu

Jane Smith

Senior Associate Director of Athletics
Greenback University
Phone: (333) 987-6543
Email: SmithJ@Greenback.edu

Joe Doe

Project Manager
Sports-Vision Company
Phone: (444) 456-7890
Email: Joe.Doe@sportsvision.com