How To Choose The Best Employment References

Employment references often play a huge part in why we are or aren't hired for a new job. For this reason it's very important to choose who is listed on your resume as a reference to help showcase why you would be a good candidate to choose to fill their vacancy. Ideally you want to organize about three to five references that meet the following selection criteria:

• People who know your strengths and abilities and who you can rely on to be positive about you. They also need to know you well enough to be prepared and able to answer any questions the prospective employer asks and to confirm your resume information.


• For candidates with previous work experience most references should come from former managers or supervisors or even co-workers who you have worked closely with. They are suitable if you feel they know you well enough to provide an accurate assessment of your work responsibilities and performance. Interns or students can call on College Professors, Teachers, Administrators, Extracurricular Advisors, Coaches and any professional people that they have had reasonable contact with such as part-time employers.


• Select a good mix of people that can provide information on you from different perspectives. This helps the potential employer to get a full picture. It is quite acceptable to include references other than your previous employers. Business associates, customers and clients are also appropriate references if they have sufficient knowledge of your skills and accomplishments to answer typical reference questions. If you do community or volunteer work, members of these organizations can also be used as references.


• Avoid listing personal friends or family members as possible reference checks. Employers consider these sources of information to be unreliable for good reason! Don't list references who only know you in a social capacity, stick to people who have worked with or who can discuss your work-related qualities.


• They must be easily contactable. A potential employer will only get frustrated if they are unable to get hold of your employment references because they are out of the country, always in meetings or are just unavailable.


• References should be as current as possible. Employers generally check with your most recent jobs first and regard this as the most reliable information.

These are just a few things to consider when you are thinking about your references. Most important of all - make sure that they are willing to be a reference by asking them first. Once you have asked them and they agree to be a reference, keep them up-to-date on your job search. Send then a quick email or text message to let them know that you had an interview and they might be called upon. Never assume, just because you work with someone, that they are willing to be a reference. If you use a current or former colleague or supervisor as a reference, without their knowledge, you might not get the best review!

By: Bambi Blue