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REFERENCES
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What is a reference?
 | A person employers can contact for more information about
you. |
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The statement your reference makes about your character of
abilities. |
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The best references are verbal and not written. Most
potential employers prefer to talk to a past employer and do their own
reference check. |
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How many references do I need?
| At least three, although six is more to your advantage. |
| The names of these people should be on a separate page. |
| Remember to include their relationship to you, job title, organization,
address and telephone numbers (home and/or work) |
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Who are suitable references?
| Former employers |
| Supervisors/Co-workers |
| Customers/Suppliers |
| Clients/Students |
| Instructors |
| Workers you have supervised |
| Business owners |
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How do references provide their information?
| By phone or letter, when contacted by an employer |
| By an open "Letter of Recommendation" which usually begins
with To
Whom it May Concern |
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Guidelines
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ASK FIRST - Never use anyone's name as a
reference unless you have asked the person for permission.
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STACK THE DECK - Never use anyone's name as a
reference unless you are certain that what that person is going to sat about
you will be positive
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KEEP THEM INFORMED - Give them copy of your résumé
and/or calling card. As soon as you give the names of your references to
anyone who is thinking of hiring you, get in touch with your references and
let them know that they can expect a call. Provide him/her with some
information on the position, your suitability for the position, the names of
the company and who will be calling.
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HAVE THEM GO TO BAT FOR YOU - If you have a reference
with personal connections to a company interested in hiring you, ask
the person to make a call. Make sure the call goes to the interviewer an not
the interviewer's supervisor. Going over the interviewer's head to gain a
favorable fitting decision is an almost certain recipe for losing out on a
job.
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SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION - Be sure to thank your
references, either by phone, letter or in person. When you secure a new
position, be sure to let your references know and thank them for their part
in the process.
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Caution
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If the list of references you supply to your
interviewer doesn't include the names of recent employers, you're
likely to raise a few red flags and the interviewer may attempt to get
in touch with them anyway. |
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If you're worried that a former employer might not go
to bat for you, you have two options:
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One is to explain to the company to which you've
applied why your former employer might not have the best things to
say about you.
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The second is to call the employer and let him/her
know that a reference check might be in the works and that you
would appreciate letting bygones be bygones.
Keep in mind that in today's litigious society, many
companies do little more than give the proverbial "rank, file and
serial number" when receiving these calls and they may just
confirm start and end dates, position and salary. |
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