Your resume has been saved. The cover letter is complete. Now, all that stands between you and your finished application is your list of references.  Easy. This part should take a few minutes, right?  After all, you’ve known good ole Stan (or Dan or Jan) for decades.  Stan and the gang are your go-to references for everything in your job search. He uses a nice letterhead and will promptly reply to an email or phone call. But stop for a minute.  What has Stan said or done in the past to help you land your ideal job?  What has the reference of a former supervisor or coworker done to set you apart from the other hopeful candidates? Chances are that you have never really put that much effort into such questions.  Many have never paused to question the value of solid [...]