Who, in your Network, Should You Use as A Reference?

Determining who should be your professional references is a crucial decision you make when you’re piecing together a job application.

One inappropriate word from a bad reference can rapidly topple you off an employer’s list of applicants. On the other hand, a strong recommendation can persuade a company you have the abilities and experience to succeed in the job.  Because you can’t completely control what your references will say, they carry real weight with hiring managers.

However, you do control who you select as a reference. Below are a few tips on how to make the right decision.

Pick someone you’ve worked with

While you might know one or two people who can impress a hiring manager, you shouldn’t ask them to be your professional reference if they can’t claim to have ever worked with you.

Ideally, you should ask a former supervisor to act as your personal reference. This person should be able to go over specific examples of what you achieved in past job, and how you added value to the team or business as a whole. If you can’t include at least one supervisor as a professional reference, a hiring manager will be suspicious about your relationships with past bosses or ability to do well in the open position.

Past coworkers are also good professional references, especially if you worked closely alongside them or regularly collaborated with them.

Collude with your references

While collusion might not be acceptable in certain life situations, it’s perfectly acceptable to collude with your references over what they might say if a hiring manager comes calling. Your reference should be able to give specific examples of your work that show off either technical aptitude or valuable soft skills.

The best way to approach a reference is to ask her or him if they would be comfortable making a positive recommendation about your abilities. If they are willing to do so, you can then get into the specifics of what skills you’re looking to showcase.

Pick references based on the open position

Ideally, you should have a big enough pool of references that you can pick out three different individuals based on the job that you are seeking. For instance, if the job posting emphasizes the importance of being able to meet strict deadlines, try to supply at least one reference who can give examples of your deadline-meeting ability.

Regularly update your reference roster

The longer it has been since you worked with a particular reference, the less weight their recommendation is going to carry. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly infuse new blood into your list of references, and eliminate some of the folks who have been on your list for a while.

Are you looking for a new IT job?

At SMCI, we work with job seekers to help them with everything from contacting potential references to interview prep. Please contact us today if you’re currently looking to take the next step on your career path.