ASK JOE A QUESTION

To get your question answered on this page, send it to Joe. Please include your full name in your message. If you prefer that your surname not be published, please indicate that. Sign up to receive Ask The Recruiter by e-mail: * Click here (sent Monday-Friday at 8 a.m.)

This is my first job out of college, and I've been here about 2.5 years. I still list the editor who coordinated my internship four years ago, as well as my college media adviser (I was the editor of the student paper.) and a professor who had me in a number of classes and also coordinated an international summer program I participated in.

I also list my former editor from my current job. He left for a different newspaper about two months ago, but I still feel like he's the guy from this newspaper who knows me and my skills best. Should I list someone else who's still at this newspaper in addition to (or instead of) the former editor who has since left?

There are other people here who I could list, but I don't think they'd be as good as the guy who's gone. I get along with my immediate editor, but I wonder how she'd come across in a reference call. She's not an enthusiastic person in general. So she wouldn't have anything bad to say, but I'm not sure she'd wow someone who called her, either.

There's a fellow reporter who's sort of a newsroom mentor who I could use as well. Does it look strange to have no references from my current employer? Should I add someone to solve that problem? Also, should I drop some of the college and previous internship references? Are they out of date?

Thanks for your help on this. Your column is my new favorite feature on poynter.org.

Ready to Move

Use your former editor, with his consent, of course. He sounds like a strong reference for your recent career, and that should be acceptable to anyone. Be ready to serve up another name if someone asks, but reserve it for then.

Joe Grimm

You are so right to evaluate potential references on their ability to give a good reference. I see nothing wrong with using the newsroom mentor as a secondary reference, as it sounds as though he has some experience and credibility.

Those college advisers? Pare them to one now, preferring the one who knows the most about what has happened with you since you left college.

Long-term references can be helpful -- but only if they have been in a position to follow your career growth.