Why Job References Matter
The company wants to know your past work performance. They want to know your work habits from your past employers. Job references should be listed on your resume no matter what. Why? Here are the things you need to know from the hiring manager’s standpoint.
The Real You
Everyone of us try to sound smart and professional on our resume with fancy words. Employers want to make sure they find candidates that match their company’s work ethic and culture. Instead of reading bluff, the hiring manager would rather talk to your past or current employers to get to know the real you.
Putting “Provided Upon Request” on the reference column of your resume implies that you are hesitant to provide that information in some context. You should feel confident and comfortable to provide the hiring manager your references.
The Right References
In considering whether someone can serve successfully as your reference, consider in what context that person will know your work, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Consider a wide spectrum of references that may speak to different aspects of your skill set, for example: a faculty member that you have worked closely with, a colleague that you have done a project with from a national association, a person that has worked with you in a crisis situation, etc.
Be sure to let your references know that you are searching for a job and make sure that they are ready to speak to the institutional representative. Make sure you have the correct contact information of the references for the hiring manager.
Even though a person may have agreed to serve as a reference for you, are you confident that they can speak thoughtfully about your work and not be flustered or rattled by the questions? It is particularly important for your references to understand generally your job search process and the type of position that you are seeking, especially if that person is someone that you previously worked with and may not be current with regard to your career goals.
A reference can not only increase the chances of being hired, but you can also keep a good relationship with a past employer in between the hiring process.
Have you noticed the way job references help or hinder your job search? Tell us your thoughts, comments, or different understandings on the topic. We would love to hear from you in the comments below!