5 ways to make sure your references don't hurt a job search
By Brian O'Connell/MainStreet.com
Studies show that companies value employee references when hiring staffers, and the better the reference, the better the value.
According to a study from Chicago-based CareerBuilder, 80 percent of hiring managers surveyed confirmed that they contact the references of potential employees.
Be careful, though, the same 2012 study notes that 62 percent of executives found those supposed references had bad things to say about the job-seekers -- and 29 percent said candidates had given them a fake reference.To get the most from your references, you need to choose them carefully and make sure they know they might be contacted by a potential employer, CareerBuilder says.
"You want to make sure you are including your biggest cheerleaders among your job references," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "Before choosing someone, ask yourself 'Did this person understand my full scope of responsibilities? Can he or she vouch for my skills, accomplishments and work ethic?' You also want to make sure that you ask your former colleagues if you can list them as a reference. If someone is unwilling, it helps you to avoid a potentially awkward or damaging interaction with an employer of interest."
Let's examine some more tips on getting the reference you need to land a great job offer:
Cap it at three. CareerBuilder says three references are appropriate for a job candidate, although it's a good idea to ask a potential employer how many references they'd like to see.
Don't wait until the last minute. You should have your job references lined up before your job interview campaign. That gives you time to prepare your "story" and reduces the chances of mixed messages that could hurt your chances of getting hired.
Who gives you the best "impression"? Don't give too much weight to job titles when picking a reference. Instead, choose a reference who'll leave the best impression with a hiring manager and who can list specific achievements on your behalf.
Get permission first. It's good business -- and good manners -- to check with a potential reference and ask if they're willing to help. Without a heads up, you can wind up with a negative reference and leave a bad impression on a potential employer.
Note the response time. When you do reach out to a potential reference, keep tabs on the amount of time he or she takes to get back to you. If your reference procrastinates, keep looking. A slow response to you will also likely mean a slow response to a hiring manager looking for feedback.
It's also beneficial to bring a hard copy of at least three references to a job interview and offer them right there. Companies will likely appreciate your being prepared -- a characteristic most hiring managers will appreciate when weighing job offers.