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