Here'a s few tips. 1.) Reach out to the people you worked with at those old companies. You would often be surprised who remembers you. 2.) Reach out to yo

Here'a s few tips. 1.) Reach out to the people you worked with at those old companies. You would often be surprised who remembers you. 2.) Reach out to your favorite professors. It's an assumption they don't remember you. They might remember you better than you think. 3.) Even if you don't feel comfortable asking someone for a reference right off the bat, you'll want to keep in touch with them at least sporadically, because you never know when they can help you in the future, or you can help them. 4.) Assume you won't get the job. The odds are typically stacked against you if you don't have an "in". Make sure the people you pick as references are close to you and don't use your boss or boss's boss. 5.) Your work and interests don't typically matter in a reference interview. If people like you, they'll answer all of the questions positively to help you get the job. 6.) Don't ask people for references who don't like you or when a work relationship ended in a bad way. This is really the only way to fail a reference check.