How to ask someone to be a professional reference?

Hi,
I found this on businessnewdaily dot com, hope it helps...good luck!

How should you ask for a recommendation?
DO: Inform the person beforehand and give him or her plenty of notice.

In some cases, when you leave a job or internship, your supervisor will happily offer to provide a reference for you in the future. However, it's still polite to give that person a heads-up that a potential employer may be contacting him or her about your application. You can do this simply by emailing the person, letting him or her know you're looking for a job, and asking for permission to provide his or her contact information to your potential employers, Meador said.

"Provide the person who is giving the reference or letter of recommendation plenty of notice so he or she has time to work it into their schedule," Dean added.

Meador also advised expressing appreciation for the person you're asking when you request a reference.

"People love hearing nice things about themselves," Meador said. "Think about why you are asking [this person] in particular to write a testimonial. Mention something that you admire and appreciate about his or her leadership style, mentoring skills, or support of your career. A little flattery can go a long way when you are asking a person to take time out to help you."

DON'T: List someone's contact information on your job application without telling him or her.

There are a number of problems with sending out a person's contact information without their permission, especially if you include it on a publicly uploaded résumé. Not only are you opening that person up to unsolicited communications, but he or she will be blindsided when an employer calls for a reference, and will likely be unprepared to talk about you and your qualifications.

"If you post your résumé on job boards, you've broadcasted your reference's contact information to way more people than you might think," Peppler said. "Always ask before you provide contact information and consider the consequences when disclosing personal emails and phone numbers."

Dean noted that some companies may also have a policy against providing references for current or former employees, so this is another reason to confirm a recommendation request beforehand.

Hello!
Firstly I would say just ask! As long as you are polite and ask nicely then I am sure they will be willing to write you a reference or be ready to write one when you need one, especially if you are a hardworking a valued member of the team which it sounds like you are. It is good to develop relationships with the management in all jobs so that asking for references is easier. Also, asking for a reference from last year's job is not overdue, go ahead and ask them, I am sure it will not be a problem.
Good luck!

Hi Jerry!

You might find this to be helpful:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/dont-do-it-7-people-you-should-never-put-on-your-reference-list?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=botw_20170122&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=botw_20170122_a&bsft_eid=7ea8717b-2b6b-4653-b2a3-0d9ba44cc3b2&bsft_clkid=1106bce0-336f-417e-a2ba-ad87d13f8cc3&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=a43ea48f-9778-4181-8094-97a220886acc

The most important thing to do is to ask someone each time before using them as a reference using a phone call or a personal visit as a means. You need ask the person to be a reference and explain to them why you are doing that and who might contact them and why. You need to explain the purpose (job interview, volunteer opportunity, school application, etc.) so that they can point out qualifications that you feel you have that make you unique for the opportunity. You might suggest things that you feel would make you qualified, and ask their opinion to see if they have any other ideas about your qualification.

Too often during my personal and business life I have been contacted for personal and business references regarding people who have not followed the above process, and the result every time turned bad for that person, such as occurred in the site above. You certainly do not want to put yourself in that situation.

You can use
- teachers and professors
- academic advisers
- neighbors
- clergy
- former employers or present employers, if appropriate (be careful with this one)
- members of professional organizations related to your career area
- coaches
- advisers of extracurricular activities, especially if they are related to what you are applying
- anyone that can vouch for your qualities related to the opportunity that would speak well for your inclusion

It is very important that you inform your reference of the result of the situation for which you requested the reference. People will not want to be used as a reference unless they are informed of the result, otherwise they will feel used and abused and left out and might not want to be used by you again.

Let me know if and how this might help. Keep me posted. I would like to follow your progress.