As one of my bosses will soon leave our company, I realized that I needed something extremely important from her: a letter of recommendation.

While no employers currently need a letter of recommendation from me, I always try to keep recent letters on file. And if you’re applying for jobs, then you should as well.

Quality letters of recommendation and references can make a significant difference in obtaining a job.

For letters of recommendation, ask people who know your work well and will write a glowing letter. You don’t want to provide potential employers with an unenthusiastic letter regarding your work. Offer to give the writer a copy of your latest resume and a list of tasks you’ve completed for them or their company.

For references, you want to list people who know you and your work ethic well. Just like recommendation letters, you want references to speak highly of you. You don’t have to use previous bosses for references, as professors, mentors, and industry acquaintances can also be useful. Regardless of whom you choose, make sure to get their permission to use them. Also ask them what contact information you can list on your reference sheet. Sometimes references may only want to share certain phone numbers or e-mail addresses.

Continually update your references and letters of recommendation to provide employers with relevant information.