Choosing the right references is a crucial part of your job search. Aside from speaking to your skills, references also shed light on who you are and what you’re like to work with, ultimately ensure you’ll be able to do the job you’re applying for. Because references can make or break a job offer, it’s important to pick the right people.
In the Glassdoor article “5 Tips To Choose Your Best Job References,” writer Heather Huhman writes that according to a survey by CareerBuilder, nearly 70 percent of employers have changed their mind about a candidate because of his or her reference. “Forty-seven percent of the employers surveyed said they had a less favorable opinion of the candidate and one-third said their opinion about the candidate improved after speaking with a reference,” she writes.
Huhman goes on to give five tips to keep in mind when choosing your references.
- Think carefully before selecting a reference. When selecting a reference, you want someone who can speak highly of you as a professional. This person doesn’t necessarily need to be a former boss, but it does need to be someone who has witnessed your skills and accomplishments first-hand. You can choose a mentor, a co-worker, a college professor or a mentor. “Just remember, the people you’ve interacted closely through professional relationships are more likely to give you an accurate reference,” she writes.
- Ask for his or her permission. While you may have had an excellent working relationship with this person, not everyone is comfortable giving recommendations for employment opportunities. “While in most cases your colleagues will be flattered to serve as references, it’s always respectful to ask for their permission first,” Huhman writes.
- Collect important data about your reference. Once you’ve been granted permission, collect their contact information. On the reference list you include with your application or give to a hiring manager, make sure you list their full name, current title and name of company, phone number, email, and work address.
- Coach your references. Always make sure your references have your most up-to-date resume and can speak to your skills and your best accomplishments. This will help your references give you the best and most relevant recommendation to employers.
- Keep your references informed during your job search. No reference wants to be requested to give a reference when they least expect it. “When you include a reference on a job application, follow up and let him or her know to expect a phone call or email from an employer,” writes Huhman. “This will help them prepare to provide a better reference for you and stay informed during the hiring process.”
Additionally, don’t overkill on the amount of references you include. My rule of thumb is three. No more, no less. Having three different perspectives on you will give hiring managers a solid picture of your skill and work ethic, but adding any more will either take up too much of the hiring manager’s time to contact all of them, or they will make their best guess on who to contact and only contact a few. If you include five, and they only call three, they might miss out on two of your best references. Choose wisely, and follow the above tips to ensure you are represented in the best way possible.
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