Staying on your references' good side

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Staying on your references’ good side

Posted by Rob on April 22, 2013

Most, if not all, jobs you ever apply to will require references. Your references could be your golden ticket to a job. That being said, it’s important to take into consideration who your references are and, more importantly, remember your reference etiquette.

To help you with this important step, I’ve listed some important reminders:

Having a list of pre-planned references is great, but make sure that the ones you choose to submit to a prospective employer can speak to your abilities that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
When you choose your references, contact them before you submit their names. Ask them if it’s ok to use them as a reference. You should also describe the position to them and perhaps remind them of things they could speak about that are relevant.
Include two methods of contacting them: phone and email. Be sure to confirm with your references how they’d like to be contacted. Don’t forget to let them know when they can expect a call.
Send a thank you, whether it’s an email, a letter, or a phone call. Show appreciation for your references, especially if their words helped you land a job. This is also good practice in networking.

I’ve been used as a reference several times in my life. In every case, I’ve been asked to be someone’s reference before I was contacted by the employer. I appreciated the heads-up because it allowed me to think about the person I was going to be speaking about. Imagine receiving a phone call out of the blue and being asked questions about someone’s work ethic and strengths, especially if you aren’t prepared to answer them. You probably won’t give your best answers because you are caught off guard.

Don’t let your references be caught off guard. It will only work against you!