How long must you work with someone before they're a reasonable reference?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Going into the current semester, it was my internt to search for an cooperative learning (basicly a long term internship) position for next semester. The main problem is that I had no previous work experience. In order to get something to go on my resume, I got a job working part time (about 15 hours a week) in one of my school’s dining halls. I have been working this job for approximately 4 weeks now.

How long would you say I have to work my current job before I could reasonably ask one (or more) of my supervisors to serve as a reference as I search for a co-op position?

This might belong in GQ, but I sense this is the sort of thing that has no hard and fast answer so I put it in IMHO. Mods, feel free to move this thread if necessary.

2

Depends. I don’t think there’s a definitive answer.

I changed jobs a little over a year ago, and a few months into my new position there were lay-offs! I, fortunately, was not affected. But it got me thinking of the same question “who would I use as a reference if I was just laid off?”

My thoughts were, as long as the reference has some personal experience regarding your work habits, output, commitment, etc. he/she would be valid. If your reference didn’t have any chance to formulate an opinion based on your talents then don’t ask them.

Pretty simple.

3

Thanks. That’s basically what I figured but I wanted to get some more input just to be sure.