Your job search process has begun. You’ve got your resume stacked with accounts of your accomplishments, your online profile is superb, and you’ve practiced your ‘elevator speech’ one hundred times.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR ...

It makes good business sense – and respectful professional etiquette – to stay in touch with your former bosses, as your efforts to stay connected with past employers could pay dividends many times ...

When you’re applying for jobs, a common request among employers is for you to provide a list of professional references. After your interview, your references could be a key component on whether you ...

What others say about a job candidate is far more important than what they could say about themselves. Prospective employers really take into consideration what job references say about a candidate.

CIO.com – Have you ever wondered what your professional references say about you when prospective employers call them? Perhaps you suspect that one or more of your references isn’t providing the ...

Having people to vouch for your work ethic and character is important. But what if those folks are hard to come by? Though a solid resume and strong interview might help bring you closer to landing a ...

Find sources that can vouch for your skills and work ethic Give details about the position Note what skills and experience you would like highlighted Always ask permission before name-dropping “You ...

Q: A lawyer I barely know asked me to recommend him for a legal position at my company – and I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable about it. What's the proper etiquette for this type of situation? A: It is ...