- Thomas M.
- Monday, February 07, 2022
Here are three suggestions for anyone looking for and listing references as part of their job application.
Prepare your references before you land the interview.
You may be tempted to put off preparing references until you are directly asked for them. Why put in the extra effort and build people’s expectations if it could all fizzle out? There’s an old saying about that train of thought. Failure to plan is planning to fail. Approach the hiring process with purpose and clear intentions, and your chances of success will only increase.
Consider this: the preparation makes a good impression on your references, who will also be more prepared as a result. They will have extra time to think about your positive qualities and anecdotes. They will respect that you did not ask them to look out for a message from a hiring manager on short notice. The way you ask your references to stand up for you could well be the last impression you make on them before they get that fateful call or email. Make it a good one!
References familiar with your work are the most valuable.
In a previous blog post of job application advice for teens, I shared some suggestions for applicants with a short resume. You might have a work history and still few to no references, for a variety of reasons. Maybe you don’t want your current job to know you are trying to leave, for fear of retaliation. Maybe you are not confident in your supervisor to highlight your accomplishments and finer points. It happens! But don’t let someone else’s opinion of you harm your confidence.
Make sure you have somebody in your corner who has seen you work. For example, they could be a professor, a coach, or a religious leader. If they can talk about your hard work, communication skills, technology skills, leadership, or ability to set and meet goals, those are all good things to share with hiring managers.
Bring full references when requested, and even when not.
This one may sound obvious, but it can trip up even the most qualified job candidates. If an invitation to an interview includes a request for references, make sure you bring them. Bring a list of references even if no one asks. Better to be safe than sorry. A typed, printed list works best. Make sure to include each reference’s full name, organization, position relative to you, and preferably both their phone number and email address. That way, if a filter for unfamiliar calls or emails foils one method of contact, the hiring manager will have a backup.
Looking for more information?
Set up an appointment with one of our certified Career Coaches through the Book a Learning Coach form or by calling 803-929-3400. After you submit, we will contact you to set an appointment. Our team provides help with interviewing skills, your résumé, interest/skills assessments, and more. Follow Richland Library on LinkedIn for career development tips and tidbits.