A reference is a person who is willing to speak to a potential employer about you over the phone or via email. Your references are compiled into a document that can be submitted at the time of application or during an interview.
A recommendation is generally a letter written by one of your references that you submit with your application or include in your portfolio.
You can also request that your references complete a recommendation on your LinkedIn account or endorse your skills and expertise on your profile. Visit our Networking page for additional resources on how to use LinkedIn.
Resources
Reference and Recommendation Guidelines — information on how to put together a reference list and/or recommendation letter