How to make the most of job references

Published 8:55 pm Tuesday, September 25, 2007

It’s common knowledge that strong references increase your chances of landing a job. By giving examples of your talents and achievements, they demonstrate how you can make a real difference in the workplace. They also bring humanity to your on-paper (on-resume) persona, which may distinguish you from other candidates.

But it’s not enough to have a list of references. You need good ones. People who genuinely value your contributions and are willing to speak candidly on your behalf. In fact, you should be 100 percent certain that your references will provide employers with honest and positive information about you as an individual, and talk about you in a way that improves your job hunt.

Finding great references. If you have an extensive work history, use supervisors or project managers who have witnessed your capabilities firsthand. High-level managers or business leaders can make an impact by using colleagues or partners. Self-employed individuals often do very well with a few satisfied clients.

For job seekers with limited work experience, utilize supervisors from part-time, seasonal or volunteer positions. If you participate in a sport or activity, or attend school, think about coaches, teachers or college professors as potential references.

If you are new to the work force, or don’t have references, it’s OK to tell a hiring manager that you are confident in your ability to make a contribution, but since you are fresh out of high school (or since your last employer closed its doors, etc.), you don’t have any references at this point. Most employers will understand.

Just don’t try to fool employers with nonprofessional references. Perform your job search with integrity, and you’ll receive more job offers. Better ones. Now and in the future.

Establishing communication. Once you identify a few possible references, be sure to obtain their permission before you hand over their contact information to a potential employer. Find out if they prefer to be contacted by e-mail or phone. Also, tell them your plans, such as which industries you are targeting and how long you expect the job seeking to continue.

Ensure that your references are aware of your job-search progress so they’ll be ready for phone calls or e-mail messages. Remember, you want your references to be prepared and enthusiastic about sharing your strengths with employers. So stay in touch, and let them know in advance when a company may try to reach them.

Maintaining privacy. Respect the privacy of your references and sustain their trust by protecting their personal data. Rather than writing their address and phone number on your resume, create a separate reference sheet that you can present during an interview. At all costs, avoid posting their contact information on the Internet.

In case you are new at this reference thing, it’s really easy to create a reference sheet. Simply type the name, title, company and contact information of each reference on a page that matches your resume.

Excellent references give you the edge in a competitive job hunt. Make it your priority to find individuals who will speak about you with confidence and sincerity. Then, be grateful for their time and effort, because their words may be the key factor in landing your next job.

Send your job search questions to Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com.