Mentors as a reference
You have a mentor, and are beginning to apply for new roles, but is it appropriate to use your mentor as a reference? The answer is ambiguous, along with most of the things in this section, and should be based on your best judgment. There are a few questions that you can ask to make your decision easier.
The following is a decision chart that will help you simplify your decision:
Figure 6.6 – The decision tree for "should I use a mentor as a reference?"
In the following portions of this section, we will cover each of the four questions, starting with the most basic one: have you asked your mentor if you can use them as a reference?
Have you asked your mentor to be a reference?
If you have not asked someone whether they are your mentor or otherwise, you can only use someone as a reference after you have asked them, and they have agreed. Using someone as a reference without their permission is unprofessional and...