- Catalyst Search Inc.

If you’ve been asked for references chances are you’ve captured the potential employer’s interest. Congratulations. Now you’ll need to choose references that can confirm your employment history, skills and attributes. There are a few important considerations before you provide that list.

Choose referees who have relevant things to say. I have often been given ‘personal references’, people who know a candidate through a volunteer opportunity, religious organization or from a teaching setting. Unfortunately these references seldom add value to the process and can even serve to diminish the perception of the candidate as a serious business professional. Employers are looking to determine how you behave in a work setting, so your references should be people who have seen you in that environment.

Think about what is important to the employer. They’ll want to hear about what you did, how you did it, any accomplishments or value added, and how you got along with others while doing it.  Select referees who understand your duties and can comment on how well you did them; for this a team leader or supervisor is often invaluable. If your role required frequent interface with other departments and you believe they could speak knowledgeably about your role, feel free to use them. For supervisory roles it can be helpful to speak with a past subordinate; they’ll be able to comment on your ability to share knowledge and how you handle problems.

References take time and your referees are likely busy people. Do them the courtesy of gaining their permission to use their name and ensure you have the best contact number for them. If it’s been several years since you worked with them, you may want to send a quick email reminder about your role and the dates involved. Make sure you thank them for their support with a follow up email or note.

When you provide the list, it’s best to provide the following:

• Name
• Current Title
• Current Organization
• Best contact phone number
• Where you worked with them
• Their title at the time
• What your relationship was (coworkers, supervisor etc.)

Giving the person who will conduct the reference this information will help them better understand what questions to ask, what information is likely available and save both the referee and the person performing the reference time.

These small courtesies will be appreciated by everyone involved and will help show you as the true professional you are.