I was wondering if it is appropiate to send a “thank you” gift for your references, after hearing from a potential employee that they provided excellent comments about you? If so, what do you give? I was thinking a dinner gift certificate, but I don’t see many execs use “gift certificates” when they dine? I don’t have their home addresses, so sending a nice bottle of wine is out of the question… What do you all think?
Assuming that you already sent a thank you note/email I’d send a bottle of wine to their work address.
Send a nice handwritten thank you note.
A thoughtful thank-you note should be sufficient. I’ve never sent gifts to a reference, though I did give gifts to my MBA recommendation writers…
I think a thank you note is a great idea. A couple of my references were like mentors and really were influential in getting me this position…any other small gestures besides a hand-written note? (I don’t think sending booze/wine to work is a great idea–sorry CzarHC 
in my experience as long as it’s sent to work and not drunk at work it’s ok but I think a thank you note is definitely enough
Get some really nice stationary/thank you notes and use that for an added touch of elegance.
I should add in my *limited* experience
For some of my references who were closeby (ex-coworker/ex-boss), I took them out for lunch as a good excuse to chat and catch up.
lunch definitely.
I wouldnt see a problem with sending wine to work…I order wine for myself to work since you have to have someone sign for it and I have a hard time to be home during the day.