As a headhunter that has done many reference checks for clients, I agree that you should have an idea of what the person would say about you before providing their name. Most employers want to talk to your references rather than getting a letter (they know they are fake) to allow them to have a conversation and ask questions. One of the missteps you should be aware of when listing references is to know how they would describe any weaknesses or areas of opportunity or growth. Companies are looking for red flags and you should be aware of how your references will articulate them to employers before listing them as a reference. Great list of suggestions.

I would really like examples of recommendations. I've asked people to give me a recommendation and they often ask me to write it. It's so easy for me to write one for someone else but I have such a hard time doing it for myself. Can you offer some guidelines?

How does one handle a less than honest reference one can't avoid? A former supervisor cost me a job. A member of the Human Resources team from a company I applied with informed me I would never get a job as long as I listed the former supervisor as my boss. Then the HR associate shared the negative untrue information my former supervisor forwarded about me. No wonder I didn't get the job.

The tips provided by Zayda Rivera were very helpful to my current job search!! Examples of letters of recommendation would also be a helpful article for the future editions.

I'm a little disappointed in this list; this is all very basic information. (Make sure the contact information is current and correct...really?)

Let me tag on to this list with something a little more cutting edge. Every job seeker should have a profile on a professional networking site such as LinkedIn. As soon as you develop your profile (ideally before your job search) ask for recommendations to your profile from current co-workers, clients, vendors and even your supervisor. LinkedIn is such a common networking tool that it wouldn't raise your manager's eyebrows for her to see you creating this profile and asking for a recommendation. So...guess what these recommendations become? Your references list! And it may even include your boss. Send potential employers to your LinkedIn profile and let them see the love.

And here's something crucial to remember. The best way to receive a recommendation from someone is to give one first!