How to Ask for a Reference from an Employer

Before any employer offers you a job, they will want an objective second opinion. If an employer asks for your references, it is time to act & find out where you stand!

Steps

1. Decide early on in your job search who your references are going to be! Early into your job search you should have at least 3 good references. It is best to have anywhere from 5-7 trustworthy references as your search progresses.
2. Secure permission from your references to provide a prospective employer with their information by simply calling them.
3. Make your references effective by showing them your resume. This will also give you the opportunity to "coach" them as to what your key points will be.
4. List your references name and contact information and keep it in your briefcase so that when you are asked you have the information readily available.
5. Notify your references. Upon being asked to submit your references, use this opportunity to find out where you stand by asking: "May I assume that you are feeling positive about my being a candidate for this job?" Then confirm that you would like to follow up with your references so that they know they are about to be notified.

Tips

• Never put your reference information on your resume unless asked to do so. This protects their information.
• Past employers make the best references and are the most credible because they have seen you in action. Most of the time a Human Resources Manager is not going to remember your name. Contact a past supervisor instead. They are the ones who have seen you in action.
• Former colleages are going to be your second best.
• If you have done any volunteer work, contact the person who was over the project. They can advise as to what kind of person you are and how you performed.
• Helpful Hint: References make great proofreaders so be sure to show them your resume.

Warnings

• When you're about to start hunting for a job again, it's polite to notify your references that they may be contacted.
• Be sure to check that your references are still valid every so often. People move on, and their contact details may not stay the same - and innaccurate contact details for your own references is not something that creates a favourable impression in a potential employer's mind.
• Not all your references may be as favourable as you think - to test them, get a friend to call pretending to be a potential employer in the industry you're looking for work in. This way, you can weed out references that are unfavourable before there's anything at stake.