Your references are an important tool at your disposal that can be very useful in helping you to secure your ideal job. This is because there isn't a much more effective marketing resource for yourself than your references. Although a strong resume and cover letter are your best chance of initially attracting an employer's interest, your references are so powerful due to the fact that they provide positive information about you from someone other than yourself. This is invaluable information to a potential employer. So, with such a powerful tool in your back pocket, it is important to know when exactly the best time to release this information to an employer is.
Oftentimes, an employer will ask you to supply them with a list of your references prior to offering you a job. They will want to contact your references to make sure the information you?ve supplied them with is correct, and also to find out what type of worker you are and what your past accomplishments entailed. So, make sure that your references are ready to sing your praises because this is a very important part of the employment process.
Since the main reason an employer should contact your references is to verify information you've provided them with and to delve deeper into what you have to offer, your references are meant to be used after an interview. This means that you should not be handing out your references until asked to at an interview. Your references are your secret weapon, so you should protect them until the moment they're needed.
If you give out your references too freely or even place them on your resume, you may run into trouble with the people you've asked to speak on your behalf. If your references are contacted too often, they could get annoyed or upset and you don't want to upset the very people that are helping you out. As your reference information is somewhat private contact information, you will want to be protective of this, only revealing them at an interview for an employer for whom you really want to work.
Another advantage of holding onto your references until later is that you will be able to select the best people for that particular position or company you are interviewing with. You may have multiple references from a variety of professional experiences where some are more tailored to one position than others. This way, you?ll be sure to provide an employer with the most appropriate references. So manage your reference data carefully.
Lastly, if you happen to run into a job ad that asks for your references with your application, simply state that you will be more than willing to provide your excellent references at an interview. Or, you can provide the names of your references but withhold the contact information, stating that you will provide this information at an interview.
Remember that your references contain confidential information and that your references' contact information is not something that you should be handing out to anybody. It is also one of your most powerful marketing tools, so use them with caution and release them at the appropriate moment- at an interview.
The Correct Time to Use Your References
Posted by
Staff Editor
•
-
Rebecca F •Very informative article. But what about when you apply online and the system demands that you give them at least three references before it allows you to submit the application? Also what if a former previous supervisor is no longer with the company and you do not have his/her contact information, or you don't recall the address and/or the phone number of the business that a previous supervisor was at? -
Sheree Hardy •I didn't know this about references. I will hold on to my secret weapon util needed! Wonderful helpful advice.
-
Juanita Dent •Your advice makes sense, of course, but I have three reference letters from previous employers which require no personal information be released, and no danger of "tired references". Since they are great references, can/should I include them with a resume?
-
Usha RAut •Excellent advice, thank you.
-
Esther Christensen •What if you have none at all?! "No references" because those you had are some for whom the phone numbers may have changed since you last spoke with them three years ago. What then???Can one at that point just go with folks they know but have never worked with in a professional environment? Thanks for the reply!
-
Renee F •I found this article very interesting and true. ?I had recently been contacted by a recruiter whom was new to this company. (I have been dealing with this contract company for years). ?He was insisting on me providing my references, one, from a client I had recently finished a contract for. ?I am very protective of my clients I contract for, and also thought that was not good business practice. ?This was prior to him trying to convince me not only for that, but meeting in his office, without even having a position in mind...I declined to provide that, and also to interview with him.
-
Divine Baku •The article has given an accurate understanding to the very reason to withhold my references until the right moment, which is the interview. I am very happy with the presentation. Thank you very much for this vital and elaborate information.
-
Robert Campbell •Thanks for the advice about references and when to reveal.
-
Mike Warren •I was contacted via e-mail by a "recruiter" after submitting my resume for a posted job. I requested the name of the company he was recruiting for but he would not share this unless I provided him with 5 professional references. This guy is a total loser and continues to pollute the professional recruiting industry.
-
Susmita Nayak •The references are indeed very important and confedential contact information. I agree.
-
I've been seeking a job for four months and so far I've landed several interviews, but not a job as a scientist. I edited my resume and would like to know a few new tips to help me get a job. Please respond. Thanks, Jacquelin
-
This is excellent advice, Candace. ?However, with the current job economy, many employers have set up their online applications to make this mandatory at the time you apply.???One can always try to just enter the names first. ?I've always called this the "tired reference syndrome". ?If your references are contacted too many times, the likelihood of a great reference goes down dramatically. ?And, there's always a chance they'll say something like, "I thought she was getting the job at XYZ Co." ?Not good. The current job climate has allowed employers to be less than respectful at times in consideration of the job hunt from the seeker's viewpoint.
-
Debra Groman •I have noticed on several of the major board ads companies are requiring that you submit your references or they will not even consider your resume. I have also noticed companies are wanting your salary history as well. Both of these pieces of information are highly confidential to me, and therefore I do not want to give this information. ?I usually put in my cover letter that I will provide this information upon an interview. ?This there a more approriate way to state this? ?
-
You Might Also Be Interested In
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!