Who Should I Use For References?

[irene_marshall]

WHO SHOULD I USE FOR REFERENCES?

Author: Irene Marshall, MBA
President, Tools for Transition
CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer
CEIP (Certified Employment Interview Professional)
CPCC (Certified Professional Career Coach)
Former Recruiter

References are a part of the normal hiring process. People have a lot of questions about the right way
to handle them. Here are some guidelines based on my experience as a former recruiter, and now as
a resume writer, interview coach and career coach:

Why do employers and recruiters want references?

References can confirm dates of employment, titles, and whether a person is eligible for rehire. Beyond that, a good reference can provide detailed information about a candidate’s accomplishments, professional and personal style, including relations with fellow employees, vendors and clients. A person who is experienced in getting references often has to “read between the lines” to really understand the candidate’s past performance.

What are the biggest challenges for employers and recruiters to get the information they want?

Because our society is so litigious, companies often set strict guidelines on what anyone in the company can say about a former employee.
Basically, they can confirm 1) dates of employment; 2) job title(s); and
3) if the person is eligible for rehire. They will rarely allow someone to speak to the actual work performance
of the former employee.

Should I put references on my resume?

No.You should only give a prospective employer the name of your references when the hiring process is moving along. References are usually done between first and second interview. Call each person directly. Confirm that they will still give you a good reference. Tell them about the job you are interviewing for and why
you consider yourself to be a good candidate. That way, the reference can quickly respond to a request,
and will know what information might be helpful for you to get the job.

Who should be my references?

Your references need to be able to speak to the quality of your professional work. Personal references such as pastors, friends or neighbors are not suitable. The best references are from recent employers, Here is the order of preference:

1sT choice: Your most recent direct supervisor.
2nd choice: Your most recent indirect supervisor.
3rd choice: Professional peers.
4th choice: People who reported to you.

What if I can’t find the people who are best suited to give me a good reference?

It is your responsibility to keep contact with people who are potential references, even if you no longer work at the same company. Use the internet with tools such as LinkedIn.
Some large companies have alumni groups. Contact anyone you still know at the company, and find out if they can help you. It is not good enough to say “Well, the company went bankrupt and I can’t find anyone now.” That could potential lose you a good offer.

What if my former company doesn’t allow current employees to give references?

Then contact other people no longer employed by that company who would not be bound by that company policy. If your direct boss left the company a few months before you did, he/she would still be a good reference and could speak freely about you.

What if my former boss won’t give me a good reference?

Many people are very nervous about what a former boss might say that would disrupt their job search. That is one reason why so many companies have policies that do not allow employees to give references. They do not want to be sued for defamation.

If you are not sure what your former boss will say, you can call the human resources department and confirm what is in your official records. Did you officially “resign” or were you “terminated”? It is very important to know what is in your official employment records. You can also engage a
professional firm that conducts references so you can determine what the company will say about you.

If there were, in fact, problems when you left your past employer, sometimes interview coaching can help you figure out a way to professionally describe what happened. “Life can be messy,” but there is always a way to talk about what happened.

When I worked as a recruiter, the process of getting good references was key to being able to place a candidate. It would frequently take me between ½-hour and one hour to talk with the reference and then write up notes. Those notes then became part of that candidate’s permanent record with our agency.

For more information contact:
Irene Marshall, Tools for Transition
510-790-9005
irene@toolsfortransition.com


Copyright Tools for Transition, Irene Marshall

[AllanCarter]

Yes, references are an important part of your resume, so you must choose them carefully. Do not just look for someone who is influential in the community but someone who can honestly talk about your qualifications, and it's very important that before you use someone as a reference, to talk to them about your job search and get their permission.

There are four kinds of references: Employment references are former employers or direct supervisors. Professional references are people who worked with you or know you in your work environment. Academic references are teachers and others who can talk about your school accomplishments. Personal references are people who only know you socially. The employment or professional references are the most valuable because they can discuss your qualifications.

[salman22]

This is a TEST Comment
Salman Khan

[tedhalliwell]

There's some really good advice here. Thanks alot. I especially found the info about references helpful. Thanks again.

Ted