Do's and Don'ts of Asking for References

When yous're on the shortlist of candidates for a new task, your qualifications are usually very like to those of the other applicants. Often, the fundamental differentiator that decides who gets the job is which candidate is the best cultural and personality fit. The only way a hiring managing director can discover this out is by asking someone who has worked with you earlier.

References are a crucial attribute of your job search process. Though most companies don't provide references for legal reasons, you can enquire your connections for personal references.

Proceed the post-obit do'southward and don'ts in listen.

  • Exercise secure references before applying for whatever position. Request people to exist a reference tin take some time, and so you lot're best advised to get to work on this earlier yous fifty-fifty send out your résumé.
  • Don't list just anyone. Information technology might seem logical to just list your supervisors from your concluding three positions, but there'south no guarantee they're the best people to speak most your qualifications. Spend some fourth dimension thinking about all of the people you worked with in each position y'all've held and determine who is most probable to speak glowingly of you.
  • Do diversify. Narrow your list down to about 10 people who can vouch for you in regard to a range of dissimilar qualifications. For example, if you're applying for a graphic designer job, it's useful to have some people who tin vouch for your photo editing skills and others who can vouch for your logo blueprint skills. That way, you tin can arroyo them according to their relevance to your desired position.
  • Don't forget to consider advice skills. Y'all desire your references to exist able to speak and write clearly and enthusiastically on your behalf. Avert list someone whose emails are typically one-liners without capitalization or punctuation, for example. It'due south also a good idea to get out people who don't reply to calls or emails promptly off the list.
  • Practise inquire your prospective references for their permission to list them. The best way to approach people is by e-mail. That style, they'll have the opportunity to think about your request and determine whether they can and want to assistance y'all.
  • Don't push for an answer. It can take people a while to get back to you, so if you don't hear anything right away, wait for a week before reaching out again. If you lot don't hear anything afterwards that, it's best to permit it go and look for another reference.
  • Do provide your references with relevant information. Equally Anne Pushkal states in The Muse article "The Right (and Wrong) Way to Ask Someone to Exist a Reference," information technology's important to make the process like shooting fish in a barrel. Ideally, send a résumé or a link to your LinkedIn contour along with a carve up certificate listing your accomplishments during the time you were working together. You should also include a description of the jobs y'all're applying to and which qualifications y'all remember will brand the almost impact.
  • Don't exist afraid to ask for a letter of the alphabet of reference. In her Careerrealism article "6 Steps to Asking for a Reference," Mary Sherwood Sevinsky advises as well request for a letter of reference. Letters of reference can exist included in task applications and sometimes reduce the need for hiring managers to follow up in person.
  • Do think to give your references a heads up each time you list them. Be courteous, and transport out a quick email every fourth dimension yous list someone as a reference. Let him or her know what job you're applying to and what the name is of the hiring manager (if y'all know information technology).
  • Don't forget to follow upward. It's important that you lot follow upward with your references when y'all have news. Permit them know if you weren't offered or have a job, and thank them if you did get the chore. And think to offer to reciprocate in the future.

Having good references can mean the departure between being shortlisted for a task and actually getting information technology. With these practise'southward and don'ts in mind, you lot can exist prepared whenever a potential opportunity presents itself.