Latest Contributions by AileenBuckley

Following up on Dawn Wright's recent post, "Mentorship Matters: Responsiveness Leads to Reputation", and Lisa Berry's earlier one, "Mentorship Matters: 5 Tips for Approaching Mentors", at the end of this post, I offer a few tips regarding mentorship. But most of the post is about requesting a letter of reference for a job search. Here's the context: Recently, I was asked by a friend to provide a job reference for their son who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in informatics and also has three years of experience. My friend and I have both been working in the geospatial industry for years. My friend thought that because I had been around for a while, people might know me and a reference from me might carry some weight. I put a lot of thought into my response, so I thought I would share some of that here. Who to Ask for a Reference When considering who to ask for a reference consider these four things. Relevance: Think of someone who can speak to the skills and experiences most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Recency: Think of someone who is familiar with your most recent roles or experiences. Relationship: Think of someone who knows your work well and can provide specific examples. Willingness: Make sure anyone you add to your list of references is comfortable about it and willing to provide a positive reference. Of course, not everyone on your list of references may be able to cover all of these things — that’s why potential employers ask for a list instead of one name! Here are some additional thoughts about who to ask for a reference. Someone Who Holds Professional Weight: Unless the job specifically asks for “Personal References,” avoid using friends, family, or your old college roommate. In a professional setting, these types of references hold very little weight. Someone You Know: Rather than trying to create a list of references that includes people who have name recognition or who know your potential employer, ask people who know your work and your work ethic. Some who is familiar with your work on a regular or ongoing basis can speak to things like your career goals, professional development, and character traits, like your ability to communicate effectively or work as a team member. While a person with name recognition might add a bit of weight to a reference, it is the person who can provide solid evidence in support of a person’s abilities, accomplishments, and potential that more often sways the judgement to favor a job candidate. Someone Who Knows Your Work: As a recent graduate or early professional, you are at a stage in your career when you are moving away from the “academic” phase and into the “professional” phase. This means that your list of references should reflect your actual work performance rather than just your potential as a student. You want someone to represent you (in a letter of reference or sometimes a phone call) who can speak directly to your hard skills (those acquired through training or experience) as well as your soft skills (which relate to interpersonal and behavioral traits). You want your references to say all the positive things about you that you would yourself. To do that, they need to know you and your work. Candidates to Provide a Reference Here’s a list of the type of people you might ask for a reference and the strategic reasoning behind it. Direct Managers: People who have managed you on a job, on a research or other project, or in a volunteer or service role can speak directly to your reliability, technical skills, and how you handle feedback, work in teams, etc. Recruiters prioritize these references because managers have seen your work under pressure and in a practical setting. This is the “gold standard” for references. Senior Colleagues: If a direct manager isn’t available, look to a “dotted-line” supervisor who provided project-level oversight or saw you solve a specific, difficult problem. These people can provide some of the same insights as a direct manager. They can vouch for you from first-hand knowledge and experience. They are able to provide a perspective on how you tackled an unknown, collaborated within a team, or took initiative without being told exactly what to do. Clients or External Collaborators: If your role involves work for a client, a reference from a happy customer is incredibly powerful. Their reference proves you have professional “soft skills,” such as communication, diplomacy, and the ability to represent a company’s product or brand externally. This type of reference is especially useful if the position you are looking for requires high-level relationship management. Early Career Mentors: Since you are still a relatively “recent” grad, one reference from your extracurricular activities, a volunteer activity, or a recent internship is still valid. This type of reference can provide a baseline for your professional or career trajectory, showing that you’ve been a high performer since they’ve known you. See more about mentors below. About the Ask The quality of a reference doesn’t just depend on who you ask — it also matters how you ask. Ask for “Strong” References: Don’t just ask, “Can you be a reference for me?” Instead, ask, “Do you feel comfortable providing a strong recommendation for me?” This gives them an out if they can’t be 100% positive about recommending you. You’d rather have someone provide a good reference, because a mediocre one could raise a red flag for a potential employer. Explain the Position: If you’re asking for a reference for a particular position, provide details, including the exact wording of what the potential employer is looking for to fill the position. A reference that directly addresses the criteria for the position and provides evidence that you fit those criteria lets the potential employer “check off” how well you meet the job requirements. Provide a “Cheat Sheet”: When a person agrees to provide a reference, send them your updated resume and a few bullet points about the specific projects you worked on. It makes their job easier and ensures they hit the right talking points. Also give them some bullet points that show how what you have done fits a specific job, if you have one in mind. Give a Heads-Up: Never list someone as a reference without telling them first. Let them know what type of job or what specific job you are applying for or interviewing for. If you know, tell them who will be contacting them, how (email or a call), and when (if possible). A call from an unknown person might be seen as a spam risk, and an email out of the blue can be taken for phishing attempt. The lack of a response from a reference can also signal a red flag for a potential employer. On the Subject of Mentors Being a mentee is a unique opportunity to accelerate your learning, avoid common pitfalls, and build a strong foundation for your career. It’s a partnership where you gain wisdom, support, and encouragement as you start your professional journey. As a recent graduate or early professional, you’re still looking for your mentors. Here are a few things to think about as you find and foster those partnerships. A Network of Mentors: Students and recent graduates need to develop a network of mentors. Yes – network. At the beginning, you might have one person you consider a mentor, but over time, you’ll want to add more people to create a network. Think of a spider web – a single silk fiber can connect a starting and ending point, but a web of silk fibers provides many connections. It is also bigger, stronger, and able to “catch” more things, like different types of jobs or jobs in different places. Nurture Your Mentor Relationships: Prepare to maintain relationships with people over time. A mentor at one stage in your life may be able to help you in another stage of your life. You never know when that connection may prove valuable in the future. For example, one of my professors during my undergrad studies at Valparaiso University, Dr. Alice Rechlin (Perkins), later went on to become the first female chief geographer at National Geographic Society. When I applied for an NGS internship eight years after I graduated from VU, she was able to give me a good recommendation. But in those eight years, I made sure to keep her updated on what I was up to, including what I did for my five “gap years”, but also my decision to return to school for a masters in geography with a concentration in cartography. So, I kept Dr. Rechlin informed about my progress, albeit often through Christmas letters! But she always wrote me back and I always responded. Provide Give and Take: Perhaps not yearly in your career but later on, you may find yourself in a position to give back to your mentors. For example, after I graduated with my PhD, I was asked to give a GIS workshop at the Naval Postgraduate School. I asked my PhD advisor, Dr. Jon Kimerling from Oregon State University, to do the workshop with me. The organizers agreed to pay each of us what they would have paid just me. So, we were both able to get a little extra money, plus we got to explore the Monterey Bay area — always a boondoggle for a geographer! When Jon retired from OSU, I nominated him for the CaGIS Distinguished Career Award, which he won. I provided his award nomination just had he provided me with references over the years. And most recently, we co-authored (with Patrick Kennelly, another Kimerling PhD mentee) the ninth edition of Map Use: Map Reading and Design, which was released by Esri Press in March of this year. Keep an eye out for ways to pay your mentors back! Esri Resources If you didn’t know, Esri offers a number of resources for students and young professionals, including the following. Esri Young Professionals Network: This is a community for those just starting their GIS journey or experienced professionals new to the field. Join this growing network to learn more about the power of location technology, connect with like-minded peers and industry experts, and gain professional and leadership experience that can advance your career. Esri Student Programs: These paid programs include the following: Summer Internship Program: this 12-week program allows you to work on real project and gain real experience. Interns not only work, they play — through meet ups, events, and the annual hackathon. Student Assistantship Program: Students assist at Esri’s major events, like the Esri Developer & Technology Summit and the Esri User Conference. They work alongside Esri staff and connect with fellow students from around the world. And they get to experience the excitement and offerings of the events! Careers: If you’re interested in exploring job opportunities with Esri, check out our Careers page. Please note that it won’t help to directly contact me, or others in Esri, about a job. You need to go through the Careers page to learn about and apply for positions. ... View more

  Keep your eyes open for the upcoming release of the 8th edition of Map Use!  Map Use: Reading, Analysis, Interpretation, eighth edition, is a comprehensive, foundational textbook, providing students with the knowledge and skills to read and understand maps, and offers professional cartographers a thorough reference resource. The e-book will be released September 19 and the print book on November 7. Learn more here: Esri Press| Map Use | Reading Analysis, Interpretation, eighth edition  ... View more