So you’ve completed the first round of interviews – and perhaps the second – with flying colors towards that cherished new job. At this point, your prospective new employer will begin to check the quality of your references and recommendations from previous employers. These recommendations will make-or-break your prospects – have you done your due diligence in ensuring that they will be an asset, not albatross, to your job application?
About half of all references that get checked receive an assessment of mediocre-to-poor, according to Heidi M. Allison, Managing Director of Allison & Taylor Reference Checking Inc. So it is very possible that the great job you lost out on at the last moment had nothing to do with your lack of skills, or being overqualified. It could have had more to do with what one of your references or past employers said about you. If you are concerned that someone, somewhere, might be giving you a less-than-stellar review, there is a one-in-two chance that you are right. That’s a frightening percentage when your livelihood is at stake.
So, you are well advised to take more control of your career momentum by finding out precisely what each of your potential references will say about you. When you know who is going to say what about you, you can pass on your best references with greater confidence. Also, you may well have the opportunity to prevent your negative references from offering up negative commentary about you. Over the the next two blogs we will look at ten winning ways to utilize your references. Here are the first four:
1. Make a list of all your prospective references. Begin with the first job that is relevant in management of your career today. You need to select those who have carefully observed your job performance. Your references need to have seen you in action, hopefully performing well in adverse conditions. But beware: whether you list them or not, many (if not all) of your past employers will be contacted. Be sure to gather all important contact data about every potential reference, including: name, title, company, address, telephone/fax number, and e-mail address. (You may be asked to provide this data by a prospective employer.) Other individuals that may make useful references include colleagues, subordinates, and suppliers and clients.
2. Narrow the list. After you have made your list of references, select those that you feel will be most willing to give you an excellent report. A typical list of references should include five to ten names, depending on the amount of experience a candidate has accumulated.
3. Contact each reference personally. Send each reference a note (visiting them personally, if possible, is even better) stating that you are seeking new employment and that you would like to use them as a reference. Be sure to share with them your current resume and let them know of the position you are applying for, as well as the type of qualities the company is likely seeking. Give them the impression that their reference is critical to your obtaining the job.
4. Confirm your personal information. Refresh your reference’s memory regarding the position you held while working with them. Also, it is a good idea to visit the HR Department and verify that all information in your personnel file is correct.
In the next blog we will look at the remaining steps.
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