Imagine you ace an interview for a position you really want. You wait by the phone for the call offering you the job. But the call never comes. What could have gone wrong after such a great interview? Sometimes a bad reference can override even a great interview. Hiring managers want to be certain they are hiring the right candidate and rely on past employers to give them feedback on a potential employee’s skills and character. Keep these factors in mind when choosing references to make sure you have the right people vouching for you:
- Use past supervisors– Your past supervisor knows what your duties were as an employee and how well you met challenges. They provide the most valued advice to anyone doing a reference check because they know your position and how well you faced challenges and met goals.
- Choose relevant references– For example, if you are applying for a writing position, choose a reference who knows your writing skills. If you worked in retail sales a former boss in that field would not be able to comment on your writing. Hiring managers want to hear first-hand insight on your relevant skills.
- Tell your reference they are a reference! This may seem like common sense, but sometimes references are taken by surprise and cannot provide the best feedback without preparation.
- Be wary of HR laws- Some employers can only verify dates of employment and not comment on your work quality and character. Hiring managers may become suspicious when references cannot vouch for a former employee, which is why it is best to find what the company policy is before listing that person as a reference.
A great reference can be the clincher that lands a candidate a job. Make sure to alert your references that they may be contacted, prep them for possible questions, and most importantly, thank them!
