When it comes to references, it matters who you choose to best represent you. Learn more about what employers will ask your references.
Did your mother ever tell you that your friends are a reflection of you? Well, your references are as well. Potential employers often ask you for professional references to verify your previous employment and to determine what kind of employee you are. They may ask for personal references to determine what kind of person you are. Chances are, they’ll ask for a combination of both. Some employers will specify the number of years and nature of the relationship of the reference, for example, a former boss or colleague you’ve known 5+ years.
References are not just a formality and should be carefully considered. Here are some tips for selecting and contacting references:
- Create a list of potential references by going through your work and volunteer history. Consider former supervisors and coworkers who hold you in a positive light.
- Contact your references in advance to ask permission to use their name and contact information. If agreed upon, ask what times and what phone numbers are best. Be sure to tell the reference when he or she may expect the call from the potential employer.
- Explain a bit about the company and the nature of the job. Highlight things you think the employer may ask about to help the person prepare for the call. You may want to refresh the reference about your skills and how you believe they match the job description. It wouldn’t hurt to forward them a copy of your resume and/or job description.
According to a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey, more than eight of ten human resource professionals said that they regularly conduct reference checks for professional (89 percent), executive (85 percent), administrative (84 percent) and technical (81 percent) positions.
Consider the employer’s perspectives on your personal and professional references to help you choose the right people. You might be thinking of choosing only references who will say good things about you. The employer knows this as well. That’s why he or she may ask several questions of your references to determine the real you, which is probably a mix of wonderful, average, and maybe even challenging qualities.
- Dates of employment – did you actually work the dates you indicated on your resume?
- Potential for rehire – would this person hire you back if the position was available or you expressed interest?
- Salary history – what was your starting and ending salary?
- Employability – how employable are you?
- Strengths and weaknesses – what are your strengths and weaknesses, and how might they apply to the job at hand?