When asked by potential employers for references, give them your one-page reference list, complete with contact names, titles, companies/schools, addresses, and phone numbers. But your list should also include the individual letters of recommendation that each reference has already given you. Many employers will actually forego formal reference checking when they have a letter of recommendation from a listed reference. Result? You have control of the reference check and it will shorten the hiring process.

You can also use the letter of recommendation as a Show and Tell item or as a leave behind at an interview, further reinforcing a positive image and setting you apart from the crowd.