| Most people don't give much thought about | | | | find out if your former boss would rehire you |
| references until after a potential employer | | | | given the opportunity. And many employers |
| asks for them. After all, searching for a job | | | | will ask the reference to grade your |
| is very time consuming and doesn't give you | | | | abilities in the specific areas that will |
| much of a chance to think about anything | | | | apply to your new job. For example, if you're |
| except getting interviews. But reference | | | | applying for a job as a manager, the employer |
| checks are a very important part of the job | | | | may ask your reference to rate your |
| search process: both for job seekers and for | | | | managerial skills on a scale from 1 to 10. |
| employers. For employers, references are a | | | | Having a sense of the types of questions |
| chance to add depth to the information they | | | | employers are likely to ask your references, |
| have learned about you from the interview and | | | | you should try to gauge the potential |
| from your resume. | | | | reference's response to these questions |
| | | | before deciding to let them vouch for you. |
| At a minimum, your references should confirm | | | | For example, you could say "I'm curious - if |
| the information the employer has about you | | | | you had the chance, would you hire me again |
| and that you are a competent employee. | | | | to work for you?" |
| However, you should strive to provide | | | | |
| references who can be as enthusiastic about | | | | Using Non-Employer References |
| you and you would be about yourself. A great | | | | |
| reference makes the hiring manager feel good | | | | If you don't have a lot of good references |
| about their decision to hire you and sets a | | | | from former employers, non-employer |
| positive tone for your first few days on the | | | | references can be helpful too. Generally, a |
| job. As the saying goes, you only get one | | | | potential employer will want at least two |
| chance to make a first impression and your | | | | references from former employers. But if they |
| references can help you do that. | | | | require three references, you may be able to |
| | | | provide two from former employers and one |
| Getting Your Ducks In a Row | | | | from someone else. Professors, former |
| | | | co-workers and customers can all be good |
| It's a good idea to get a reference letter | | | | references if they know you well. If you have |
| from your manager as soon after leaving a | | | | a choice between providing three lukewarm |
| position as possible. Getting a reference | | | | references from former employers or two |
| letter right away makes it easier for your | | | | lukewarm references from former employers |
| manager to recall specific contributions you | | | | plus one glowing reference from someone you |
| made to the team. Even if you don't end up | | | | didn't work for, the latter is probably the |
| needing a reference right away, having the | | | | better choice. A survey done by the Society |
| reference letter provides you with something | | | | of Human Resource Management (SHRM) found |
| to fall back on in the event you are unable | | | | more than eight out of ten human resource |
| to contact your former manager at a later | | | | professionals regularly check references, so |
| time. Plus, if you decide to go back to the | | | | don't count on an employer not contacting a |
| manager a year or more later to ask them to | | | | lukewarm or bad reference. |
| provide a phone reference, you can remind | | | | |
| them about the reference letter they wrote | | | | Legal Issues |
| for you. | | | | |
| | | | There are a lot of misconceptions about the |
| Before asking someone to take the time to | | | | legal issues surrounding reference checks. |
| write a reference letter or provide a phone | | | | Some job seekers mistakenly believe that |
| reference, it's a good idea to get a feel for | | | | former employers can only provide dates of |
| what they would say about you. One way to do | | | | employment, position titles and salary |
| this is to say "Do you feel you know me well | | | | history. Even though many companies have |
| enough to write a good reference letter?" | | | | established regulations specifying that |
| instead of just "Could you write a reference | | | | managers are only to confirm dates of |
| letter?" This way, if the person doesn't feel | | | | employment, position and salary history, many |
| they could say something positive, they have | | | | managers are either unaware of these |
| an easy way to decline your request. | | | | regulations or simply ignore them. Legally, |
| | | | an employer can provide as much information |
| Employers who ask for references want to | | | | as they want about your tenure with their |
| confirm dates of employment and position | | | | organization. |
| titles at a minimum. They will also try to | | | | |