Why Reference Checks Can Make or Break Your Career
Posted April 29th, 2015
When you’re looking for a job, you know you need to fine tune your resume, craft a compelling cover letter, and ace your interview. But if you aren’t thinking about the references you supply just as carefully, you’re compromising all your other efforts. Putting together a list of references might seem like a small step for you, but the information those references supply is a huge resource for the hiring manager vetting you. To get a better picture of why references are so important, just consider these scenarios:
An Unprepared Reference Downplays Your Accomplishments
Just because a reference knows and likes you, that doesn’t mean they see your achievements and accomplishments in the same light you do. You might write a name down thinking for sure that they will praise your contribution to a project, only to discover that they misrepresent your contribution or fail to mention it entirely. The solution is to contact any reference in advance and have a back-and-forth discussion about your strengths, weaknesses, shared history, and career goals.
An Underwhelming Reference Reflects Poorly on You
For better or worse, the way your reference comes off reflects something about your character—both personally and professionally. If you list a reference that comes off as disengaged, aggressive, flaky, or unprepared, it calls your qualifications into question. The solution, again, is to prepare your references in advance, and consider soliciting written references.
A Reference Proves to Be Unreachable
A common trap that job seekers fall into is supplying contact information for references without verifying it first. It’s not unlikely that the person you’ve listed has changed addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses. There also might be issues with supplying a corporate email address. When a reference can’t be reached, it makes you look bad and also leaves holes in your professional story. The solution is to confirm all information with the source and find out how they would prefer to be contacted.
Tips for Making Your References Count
Here are some general tips for getting the most out of your references:
- Only supply references when asked to.
- Tailor your references to the position you are seeking.
- Work with the people who know you and your work the best.
- Prepare each reference in advance, and make sure that each one is not highlighting the same thing about you.
- Follow up with your references, let them know how your job search is going, and always thank them.
Don’t let simple mistakes keep you from getting a job you are perfectly qualified for. Rely on Bayside Solutions to help you conduct a more effective search.
