If so, it’s important to learn how to build a stellar portfolio of references as a part of creating your career path.

Since hiring new grads is always a leap of faith for employers, you can lessen their hesitations in hiring you by presenting great references. You can easily set yourself apart from the rest if you have a top-notch reference list.

Here are some tips to help:

1. Make the effort to cultivate your references. Keep your references in the loop regarding your career success. Don’t hesitate to talk to them about the career path you’re going to take. Doing so will engage them, and potentially give you good guidance as you make important decisions about your career. Letting secure and potential references know what you’re thinkingis a great way to build a base of supporters.

2. Know what your references have to say about you. As you reach out to definite and potential references, be ready to hear some comments about areas you need to improve on. Be willing to have a candid conversation. Share how you appreciate their help and their willingness to share their honest opinionand let you know what they would say when a reference check comes up.

3. Feel free to showoff your strengths in the classroom and the workplace. You need to let your references know what you can do in order for them to share it with your potential employers. Look for every opportunity you can to use your talents and strength so that your references can observe them. Of course, this doesn’t give you a license to be a know-it-all; instead, simply show how confident you are in doing your job.

4. Let them know about the reference checkup. Don’t forget to inform them that they may be asked about their current contact information.And ofcourse, make sure your references are available when the employer asks for them when the time comes.

5. Include references from your internships. Don’t limit your references to your professors only. Include your superiors from internships as well.Their feedback will still be of value to a potential employer.

6. Show your appreciation. Keep in mind that your references are doing you a favor as they go out of their way to help you with your career. Since they are putting their own credibility and reputations on the line, don’t forget to show how grateful you are for their willingness to help. You can send each of them personal thank-you notes and let them know you’d like to be of help to them in the future if the opportunity arises.