How to choose job references as a high school student

I'm preparing my first resume and I'm unsure of what references to use. As a high school student, who should I consider asking to be my references for job applications?

That's a great question! Being prepared with strong references can be a key part of landing a job. As a high school student, your professional network may be small, but there are still numerous opportunities to find references. Common choices include teachers, coaches, club advisors, or guidance counselors. They can speak to your character, responsibility, and work ethic.

If you've ever held a part-time job, completed an internship, or volunteered for a community service project, supervisors and colleagues from these experiences would be excellent choices as well. They can speak directly to your ability to perform in a work environment.

If you're worried about asking these individuals, remember—many of them have potentially served as references for students in your position before, and it's part of their mission to support your growth into a career. Usually, they'll be happy to help.

Don’t forget, always ask permission before listing someone as a reference. This gives them the opportunity to decline if they don't feel they can give you a strong endorsement, and it means they’ll be expecting to be contacted.

Also, when asking for the reference, provide them with some context about the job or scholarship you are applying to so they can tailor their reference to make it more pertinent and compelling. This could include the job description, and the skills or qualities that the employer is looking for. Communication is key!

Just remember, it could be damaging to your application if your reference is caught off guard by an employer's phone call or isn't able to speak favorably about you, so taking these steps can be very beneficial to the success of your application.