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4 Steps To Selecting Job References
D. Wayne Bogue Pro Resume Writer “A powerful resume can open doors. An average resume can stop you cold.” Selecting the best references for your job search is an essential part of the process. The right, or most effective, references can help secure the position. The wrong, or ineffective, references can raise doubts in an employer’s mind. The following 4 steps can help you make the most of your reference selection process. 1. Select someone you’ve actually worked with. This may sound like a “duh” moment, but you might be surprised at how many job seekers ask their buddies to serve as references. Usually, it’s not a great choice. They pick a friend they’ve never worked with because they know their friend likes them and speaks well of them. But when a prospective employer asks pointed questions and receives little information of actual value or relevance, that reference will be worth less than nothing. It may even be detrimental, causing the employer to wonder if you didn’t have enough decent work-related references. The only exception to the “friend-only” principle is if you need a character reference and your friend is well-known within your field, and trusted. Otherwise, don’t do it. 2. Select a variety of people. Select someone you’ve worked under, someone who has worked under you, and a peer/colleague, or a former client. That will give your prospective employer a picture of you from all employment angles. And that’s what you want. Remember, you are interviewing the company as much as the company is interviewing you. If you anticipate a long, strong relationship, you want the company and you to be a good fit. Allowing your future employer to see you from different vantage points helps them understand who you are in the workplace. And, if they don’t like that, then your tenure with them might be brief and unpleasant and you’ll be back on the job hunt sooner than later. 3. Select someone you know, for a fact, will give you a positive reference. This may seem like another “duh” moment, but just because someone agrees to be a reference does not mean they intend to be a positive reference. I’ve seen this first hand. It happens, and when it does, it’s a disaster for your employment prospects. It’s like having a hidden bomb waiting to go off in your interview process. The way to handle this is simply to ask, “Can you give me a positive reference?” An honest person will give you an honest answer. If in doubt move on to someone else. 4. Share the details of your job search with your references. It’s often best to give each reference a copy of your resume. This will remind them of what you’ve accomplished and help them speak more clearly about you. By the way, resume best practices state that you no longer include references on your resume itself. Separate resume Reference Sheets are now the norm. You only give your reference sheet when it’s requested. So, have it ready. Happy Job Hunt! Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Wayne Bogue is a Pro Resume Writer. You can contact Wayne through his website: www.waynebogueresumes.com. "A powerful resume can open doors. An average resume stops you cold." |
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