Excellent Resume References are a very important part of your job search. Most often you will need to be able to provide three strong references to an employer when applying for a job. Choose carefully who you use!
Tip #1: Keep It Professional
All your references should be professional references. The Employment References you choose will provide a prospective employer with an "image" of you. What type of image will they portray? Do not use a friend or family member for a reference. The employer wants to know about your work ethic and skill set from someone who is an unbiased source. The best person to provide that information is your previous or current supervisor, not someone that you see recreationally. In addition, a friend or family member may give out more information than you want an employer to have access to!
Tip #2:Who to use as an Employment Reference
Pick your references carefully; how they respond to the employer's inquiries about you may be the very thing that sets you apart in a positive or negative way from the other candidates they are considering. When choosing Employment References, your first picks should be the last 2 supervisors that you worked for. They are in the best position to give an accurate account of your work habits, skills and accomplishments, and they are most believable to a prospective employer. List these as the first and third references on your Resume Reference Page.
Here are some additional ideas for reference sources: A Shift Leader or other Professional where you work, your Employer's Human Resource Department, a Professor or Teacher that can verify your work ethic, an Organizational Leader whose group you are a member of, a Pastor or Clergy Member, a Leader of a Sports Team you participate in, a Professional from an Internship Position you held, and Former Customers, Vendors, or Business Acquaintances.
Tip #3: Obtain Permission
Always obtain permission from each person before using them as a reference and give them a copy of your resume to keep your skills and accomplishments fresh in their memory. I have to tell you a funny story that happened to me. My name is well known as a Job Search professional in the local community where I live. I run regular Job Clubs where I assist individuals in finding employment and have been doing this for over twelve years now. When a person starts this Job Club, I always ask for a copy of their resume and references. Many times I can suggest some minor (or major) changes to a resume that will result in the Job Club Member getting interviews where they were not before. Anyway, I was collecting the resumes of my new Job Club members one day, and later sat down to review those resumes and make suggestions where needed. One of my members whose name I faintly remember from giving her a job lead 6 or 7 years ago, had brought in a beautiful resume and I was glad to see that she had taken the time to get the resume professionally done and printed on resume quality paper. She had even included a copy of her Resume Reference page with the resume. How surprised was I to see my own name, professional title, business address, and business phone number listed at the very top of her Reference page! I had not seen or heard from her for 6 or 7 years. Apparently, I had made a great impression on her, because she wanted to use me as a reference! If an employer had contacted me regarding her, I would not have been prepared to discuss her abilities, much less remembered who she was!
Tip #4: Prepare Your Employment References
Once you have decided who you prefer to use as your references, you should contact those individuals. Make sure that you give them a copy of your most current resume and explain the type of position you are looking for. It is a good idea to review the major skill sets that a prospective employer will be looking for and point out for your reference how you meet those requirements. (Make it easy for them!) Another benefit to doing this is that it gives you a chance to network... those references in the business community may have some great job leads that you can reap the benefit from!
Tip #5: Use A Professional Looking Resume Reference Page
Your resume and references are your marketing tool with employers, so make sure you include all your reference information on a professionally done Reference Page to attach to your Resume! Help yourself to a Free Resume Reference Template on my website to make your job search easier!
Happy Job Search!
Marcy Travis is a Job Search Professional who provides Advice, Inspiration, and Direction for your job search. Check out her website JobSearchCafe.com for more helpful tips!
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