Needless to say, the job market is more competitive today than at any time in recent memory. Every job candidate needs to look for an advantage anywhere and everywhere they can.
One area that should not be overlooked is the area of professional references. While résumés and cover letters get a lot of attention, references are equally important in the job hunt. After all, the information these contacts share could prompt a hiring manager to extend a job offer, or a "thanks, but no thanks" letter.
Somewhere in the cover letter or the resume, the job candidate should let it be known that references are available on request. The actual references do not have to be listed, since the listing tends to take up too much space. But the point needs to be made that references are abundant and available.
What's considered abundant? Hiring managers typically expect job candidates to provide three to five professional references.
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Former managers, former colleagues, direct reports and fellow members of professional associations are all considered excellent reference candidates. The best references will be able to provide a hiring manager with a positive overview of past job performances of the candidate, and perhaps offer specifics regarding skills and attributes.
Job candidates should choose references who are professional in demeanor and have strong communication skills. References are considered a reflection of the candidate, so they should be impressive.
It's also important that a hiring manager can easily contact references. The job candidate should select references who are responsive, willing, and available. It is critical that the references chosen are good at promptly returning phone calls.
It's important that a reference is never surprised they have been contacted by a hiring manager. All references should be contacted and their willingness to help should be verified. References should also be informed by the job candidate about the types of jobs being looked at, and the skill set needed for that job. All references should be sent a copy of the current resume so they are on the same page.
The basics needed for a reference are name, job title, and contact information. It's not a bad idea to add a brief explanation regarding how this person ended up being a reference. It's best to have the references on a separate sheet of paper, ready to deliver when requested. The candidate should also make sure their own name is on the reference sheet, to avoid confusion.
Whether or not hiring managers actually check references is a crapshoot. Some employers never check a single reference. Most employers check some, and there are some employers who contact each and every person on the list. There are even a few hiring managers who will go so far as to ask references for the names of other people they can contact.
When a job candidate gets an interview with a hiring manager, the reference list should be available and handy. Whether or not the hiring manager requests the list, the candidate should hand the list over at or near the end of the interview. This will help to show the hiring manager that the candidate is organized, prepared and confident.
Professional references can, and usually are, just as important in securing a job offer as a résumé and cover letter. The job candidate should be very careful with whom they connect the hiring manager. They also need to maintain consistent communication with these contacts.
Job candidates should always strive to maintain a strong professional network to ensure the widest array of references from which to choose. A positive word from a professional contact can provide the slight edge needed to land the job.
