References

        Having good references makes your job search easier. Dealing with negative references is difficult, but can be handled.

        Before listing people as references, check with them to make sure they are willing to do it. Then ask them what they would feel comfortable saying about you. More than a few job seekers have been surprised to learn that an expected glowing recommendation turned out to be anything but. You can also suggest things you would like your references to say about you. Most will be happy to accommodate you.

        References should virtually never be listed on a resume, even when those references are well-known people. For one thing you don’t want them to be bothered by too many people calling them. You only want your references called when you are seriously being considered for a position. You want them fresh. You should notify them any time you suspect they are going to be called. You can use the brief conversation to tell the person about the position, why you would be perfect, and any points you would like the person to cover. Notifying your favorite bosses is easier but don’t neglect your ex-bosses that you did not get along so well with.

        Some job seekers like to write at the bottom, “Personal and Professional References Available Upon Request.” All employers know you will supply references when called upon, so it’s best to leave this off.

        Although employers frequently do not check references, it is wise to assume they will. If you have great references, make excellent use of them. However, if you were fired from a recent job, you got poor reviews, or your boss did not like you, you have your work cut out for you.

        There are personal and professional references. Personal references include friends, business associates you’ve gotten to know through professional associations or volunteer organizations, and former coworkers. Although it is generally assumed by employers that personal references will say only nice things about you, they are still often contacted. Therefore, choose your references carefully. John may say great things about you, but if he speaks in a monotone, gets easily flustered, and lacks tact, I would choose someone else.

        Personal references should be those who know you well or have observed you for several years. It doesn’t help your cause when someone says, “I don’t know her well, but…” Use influential people as references only if they can speak first hand about you and know you well enough to answer questions regarding your personality and personal strengths. An influential person who knows your mother or father, but doesn’t know you well, won’t be of much help to your cause. An older person who knew you only as a child also will not be of much help.

        Professional references include former bosses, peers in other departments, and customers. Your most important references are former bosses. Although companies are increasingly refusing to provide more than dates of employment—due to a rash of defamation of character suits in the 1980s and ’90s—those who really want information can often get former bosses to reveal something. So while company policy may require your former boss to refer such calls to HR, your boss may still supply information—good or bad. If your last three companies have strong policies of only supplying titles and dates of employment, you should think of supervisors or colleagues who have left the organization, who can attest to your capabilities. Finding former bosses who can act as references is important because it frustrates employers when they can’t obtain recent information about you. It could be just enough of a frustration to cause them to hire someone with recent references.

        Former bosses should be called at the start of your search and told that they may get calls from prospective employers. Explain what you’ve been up to since you worked together and thank the person for any positive contributions the person made to your career or personal growth. Find something positive to discuss, even if overall the job you had when that person supervised you was not a good experience.

        Indicate some points you would like each person to make on your behalf. Remind each one of some of the projects you worked on and the results that were obtained. This is a way of helping your references. They can’t possibly remember all of the good things you did for them. Refresh their memories. This process is relatively easy when you’ve had excellent relationships with each of your supervisors, harder when you haven’t.

        If you had a “mixed” relationship, keep the conversation positive as if the only things you remember were the good times. If you were terminated from a position, speak to that supervisor and explain how you have grown and matured since you worked for him or her. I know I’m asking you to do something difficult, but it will help your career, so go ahead and make that call. Many have been surprised to find the ex-boss very receptive.

        If you are currently unemployed and you were fired from your most recent position, you face an especially difficult situation. The first thing you have to do is find out what your ex-boss will say about you if contacted as a reference. Also find out what HR will say about you. Give thought to what you would like your former boss to say as to why you were terminated and then suggest that. Most ex-bosses really do not want to destroy your career and will often back up your somewhat “softened” version of what happened.

        Other people who may be appropriate as references include your peers in other departments you worked with, managers from other departments who observed your work, and customers who can attest to your problem solving ability. If you had more than one boss at a particular employer you might list the one who would have the kindest words about you, even if that person is no longer with the organization.

        When listing references it is traditional to provide the title and employer of the person and an appropriate phone number. Some will not want to be called at home while others will not want to be called at work. You can also indicate how you know this person or where you worked together. Provide the e-mail address of your reference. That way if the person checking references cannot get through, the two can at least make contact through e-mail.

        References are so important that if you are unsure what a reference will say, have a person who can act as a prospective employer, call to ask a few questions. That way if the person says those things that were agreed upon, you know everything is fine. When you suspect they may be saying negative things about you, this type of checking is absolutely essential. I’ve had clients who were criticized or damned with faint praise, and highly interested employers were scared off. If you know what is being said, there are ways to counter negative comments.

        The following reference page provides ideas on how to influence those checking your references. By indicating the areas that your references can “testify” about, you increase the likelihood that reference checkers will ask questions concerning those points. In Ken’s case all three people could have spoken on any of these points, but he wisely chose to emphasize certain points with each person.

 

References For Ken Wong

Past Supervisor                    Rob Jensen

Able to comment on my ability to                     Senior Project Manager

organize and plan projects that achieve                    US West

predetermined goals and get completed                    2312 Fourth Avenue

on schedule and within budget. Also able                     Seattle, WA 98213

to comment on my commitment to the                     (206) 281-2309 (work)

organization and my team members.

 

Past Supervisor                    Cynthia Gonzalez

Able to comment on my ability to take on                     Acquisitions Manager

complex projects with tight deadlines and                     US West

motivate a team to achieve goals. Also able to                     1981 Fifth Avenue

comment on my supervisory ability and the                     Denver, CO 80228

ability to develop staff that is highly                     (303) 760-2398 (work)

regarded and gets promoted.

 

Past Supervisor                    Revokh Traczewski

Able to comment on ability to negotiate with                    Senior Vice President

government entities and private organizations                    Mountain Wireless

to acquire properties and rights of way that                     345 Mountain Drive

helped Mountain Wireless grow at a                     Boulder, CO 80303

rate of 42% per year for six years.   (720) 764-0987 (work)