About Job References

If you're trying to find a job, then at some point in that process you're going to be asked to supply a list of job references.  The good news is that employers only ask for references when they're serious about hiring you.  That's why it's important to have a list of employment references ready to send to a recruiter, hiring manager, or the employer's human resources department.

In this article we're going to thoroughly discuss the topic of job references.  That discussion will include the steps involved with choosing a good reference, composing a reference list, and even writing a job reference letter.  Finally, we're going to finish up with a brief discussion of job references that are difficult to control.

Choosing a Good Job Reference

Picking a good employment reference goes beyond developing selection criteria.  You've got to make sure your reference knows they are being used as a reference and they are prepared to answer any questions they might be asked by a potential employer.

It's also a good idea to gather up contact information and prepare a summary list of references that you can share with an employer.  Finally, in some instances it may be appropriate to ask a reference to prepare a written letter.  With all that in mind here are the exact steps we recommend:

Choosing References

Picking employment references is a difficult decision that we all face.  You're going to want to pick individuals that you can rely on to provide a strong recommendation.  You shouldn't feel obligated to pick former supervisors or managers - especially if you don't think they are able to provide an accurate assessment of your strengths and accomplishments.

Many times the best references turn out to be former coworkers or persons in other departments that are familiar with the quality of your work.  Whomever you pick, you need to make sure they have every reason to answer any questions positively.

Select a Mix of References

Since you're going to need around five references in total, you should think about selecting a good mix of people.  For example, you may want to select former supervisors, coworkers, business associates, former professors, coaches, and even customers.

You should avoid selecting personal friends and family members.  You also should check and make sure that the people you select are able to answer a simple range of questions such as:

• Can you explain to me why (the job candidate) left their last job?
• Can you tell me if (the job candidate) ever held this job title - (title listed on resume)?
• Was (the job candidate) ever promoted while working for your company?
• How would you characterize (the job candidate)'s relationship with coworkers?
• What do you think are (the job candidate)'s strengths and weaknesses?
• How well did (the job candidate) work when under pressure or tight deadlines?

Asking Permission

If you're going to list someone as a job reference, then make sure you've gotten their permission before listing their name on a document.  If you've picked the right people, they should be glad to help you find a job.  In fact, many of them will be flattered by this opportunity.

You should also be prepared for rejection.  Some people are just not comfortable acting as a reference.  Don't be discouraged if someone turns down the offer - it happens.

Gather Up Contact Information

Once someone's agreed to act as a job reference, you need to make sure the contact information you have is complete and accurate.  This information includes names, job titles, company names, work address, as well as direct contact information. This last category includes email addresses, cell phone, day and evening telephone numbers.

Briefing References

Some of the people you pick as references may not be familiar with your current job duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments.  Do them and yourself a favor and make sure they are aware of what you believe are your strengths and accomplishments.

Your references should also be familiar with your career plans, including the types of job or positions to which you're applying.  It's also a good idea to send your references a copy of your resume.

Maintaining References

Finally, you need to maintain contact with your references.  Make sure they are up-to-date on your career and you'll certainly want to give them a call if you think an employer is going to be contacting them with some questions.

Maintaining good job references can take some work.  In some cases a simple telephone call is adequate, in other cases you might want to have a quick discussion over lunch or a cup of coffee.

Putting a List of References Together

After you've finalized your list of job references, you're going to want to put together a list of all your references.  This way if an employer asks you for a copy at the end of a job interview, you can quickly provide the interviewer with a current list.

All of our resume-writing tutorials recommend that you do no include references as part of your resume.  We believe that references should be included in a separate document that is labeled as such.  The general format you should follow is described below.

Example Job Reference Format

The format for each job reference is pretty simple.  You'll want to include:

• Full Name
• Current Job Title
• Company Name
• Street Address
• City, State, Zip Code
• Telephone Number
• Email Address

We've included a template for creating your own job reference list.  The following is a link to our Sample Job Reference List that you can download and customize to suit your individual needs.

Reference Letters / Letters of Recommendation

It's not a very common practice today, but you might be asked by an employer to have a reference write a letter of recommendation.  If so, we'd suggest that you ask your reference to include the following elements in that letter:

• Professional Connection - this is a brief description indicating how your reference has come to know you and why they are qualified to write a letter of recommendation.
• Job Qualifications - this part of the letter should explain your qualifications, skills, and achievements and how these attributes make you a valuable addition to any company.
• Conclusion / Summary Statement - this is a simple statement indicating that this reference would highly recommend you for their job opening as well as their contact information.  This way if the reader has any follow-up questions they can quickly get in touch with your reference.

Modern Day References

One final mention we'd like to make on this topic has to do with job references that are difficult to control.  In an effort to save some of the time involved with face-to-face job interviews, many companies are turning to the search engine powers found on the Internet such as Google to find information on job candidates.  And websites such as Facebook or MySpace can also provide insights that a traditional job interview can't.

In fact, websites specializing in "connecting" professional such as LinkedIn and Jobster allow recruiters to quickly identify coworkers - past and present.  Unfortunately, these references are not always the ones you'd like to have speaking about you to a potential employer.

We're certainly not suggesting that you distance yourself from these online communities.  We're just pointing out that in the competitive job marketplace we have today, recruiters are using any, and all, information they can find - including online profiles.

About the Author - About Job References

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