It should go without saying that having good references prepared to give to a perspective employer are an important part of the job search process. The employer who is evaluating you has only met you on a few occasions and seems that you have the skills required but your references are people who have worked with you regularly and who know your work first hand.
Ideally, your references should be former managers; peers are definitely second choices, particularly for non-manager level job hunters.
So what’s the biggest mistake that job hunters make with their references?
They don’t have the references checked to hear what is said about them!
(The second biggest mistake is presenting inaccurate contact information to the employer and then having to correct it.)
Recently, someone I was representing for a senior position with a major firm took “the lazy man’s approach” of turning over unchecked references to a prospective employer.
They were given at the time of the first meeting on the employment application.
Three interviews later, the employer called them and heard one of them offer what can only be described as a “candid assessment” of the individual and their (lack of) success.
It was impossible to fix.
For less experienced people, the reference may not be skillful at describing their successes, contributions and experience, presenting information in a “lukewarm” manner that is interpreted as ambivalence or neutrality, rather than the lack of experience the reference provider may have.
Make sure your references will speak in glowing terms about:
Skills competence
Character
Personal leadership
Work ethic
Ability to work with Superiors, peers, subordinates and others you may interact with
Self-Motivation
Personality
Ability to work independently
Ability to work with a team
Your ability to work under pressure
Not preparing your references may result in your candidacy crashing and burning.
Preparing them well, can give you that extra inch that puts you over the top . . . and pays you better!
Jeff Altman
The Big Game Hunter
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com
© 2006 all rights reserved.
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, is Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, He has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines since 1971. He is a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist.
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If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If you’re looking for a new position, include your resume).
