Employment references need to be tended, just like your garden.  They require care, feeding, nurturing, and sometimes pruning. The problem is that most people dash off their references as a last-minute “must do” item without thoughtful consideration.  Big mistake! 

With the onslaught of résumés inundating potential employers in the current ultra-competitive job market, companies are calling and questioning a candidate’s references with heightened scrutiny. Why? Because some individuals embellish their past job performances and academic credentials to gain a competitive edge during narrowed economic opportunities. This means that you not only need to be honest about your qualifications, but your references also need to be solid. Cultivating references is not some slap-dash endeavor when you are an anxious job seeker. You must carefully prepare the soil for your references to survive, thrive, and bloom when needed.  So, what does that entail?

First, pick up the phone. Have a discussion with each of your tentative references (three to four should suffice) once you are in job-search mode.  Let them know about positions you intend to seek, the reason you are looking, and the kind of industries you have targeted.  If you sense that your selected reference sounds less than enthusiastic about your plans, move on!  Even though a former supervisor might have given you stellar reviews in the past, if he or she doesn’t sound committed to your efforts now, don’t force the issue. Make it easy for a potential reference to decline if you hear something such as: “Well, I am awfully busy myself these days.”

Remember, asking to use him/her as a reference is requesting a favor.  How do you plan to reciprocate?  Can you keep lines of communication open by e-mailing the person an interesting article or an idea?  Also, don’t hesitate to coach your selected references.  Remind them of the skills and abilities you demonstrated as an employee, and provide specifics about other past achievements .


Whom should you include as a reference?

Please, do not approach family or the next-door neighbor, unless you were once employed by that person.  Restrict your list to supervisors, former co-workers, vendors, and business colleagues. If you are currently employed but are conducting a clandestine job search, utilize past customers, vendors, or mentors to provide a balanced set of references. Following are a few things to keep in mind:

• If you are dealing with a complicated family issue (divorce, illness, etc.), ask your references to refrain from mentioning any of these issues.
• You might also want to utilize a reference-checking service to find out what potential employers are hearing from the references on your list.
• If you get a scent of something that doesn’t smell right about a reference, prune that person from your list.

How to generate the best reference list possible:

• Obtain permission in advance before utilizing someone as a reference.
• Don’t offer your references to a potential employer until you have a scheduled interview.
• Make certain that your references have a copy of your current résumé.
• After the interview, immediately phone your references to update them on the position you’re seeking and help them understand why this would be a great fit for you. Groom them so that they will make positive comments to the fact checker.
• Thank your reference after each call!! This should be so obvious, but most folks fail to do this simple task.

Remember, a bad reference is worse than no reference.

LinkedIn—The New Hot Spot

You might also want to solicit recommendations for your profile on LinkedIn, a “must do” professional networking site, which contains a “recommend” feature. I see more and more job postings that require a minimum of three recommendations on LinkedIn. This is a site where former colleagues and supervisors can praise your work. Many individuals in Job Club at the University of Utah have immediately reached out to former colleagues upon job loss, asking them to serve as references while the jobseeker’s job performance was still fresh in their minds.

Having effective endorsements from your references can get you noticed. Engaging individuals to serve as personal references is asking them to act as salesmen on your behalf; they are selling you as the product.  So, above all: Choose carefully and thoughtfully. Your future career may depend on it.

Questions? Concerns? Contact Julie Swaner at Alumni Career Services, phone (801) 585-5036.

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