USING REFERENCES
Most employers will eventually request your references before extending a job offer. The
strongest references come from previous employers who can vouch for your knowledge and
skills, your integrity, and your enthusiasm toward work. Ask current/past immediate
supervisors, managers, or co-workers to be references. The higher the title, the better.
Selecting References
Your reference should know who you are and what you did. Request references only of those
people who think positively of you. If you know that your current or previous boss won’t give
you a decent recommendation, provide the name of someone else in the chain-of-command
who will. Maybe your boss’s boss, another manager, or a supervisor who is familiar with your
work. Don’t use family members or friends unless they can truly speak to your work-related
skills and qualifications.
Generally speaking, you should only use business references unless the employer asks for
personal or character references. Other potential references may include your professors,
leaders of organizations and clubs, clients, customers, or others familiar with your work. They
should all be professional contacts.
Preparing References
Of course, you should always ask for their permission beforehand and inform them of your job
objective. You might also give them a copy of your resume, so they have something to refer to
when contacted by an employer. Also, provide them with a copy of the job description of the
position.
It’s OK to talk with your referenced beforehand about the company, the position you’re
applying for, and your insights for employment with the company. This let’s your references
know they should expect to be contacted soon and provides them with information they can
use to provide the HR professional with tailored comments.