BY: Adam Gavriel
If you’re lucky enough to be in the middle of the hiring process, but can’t seem to push past the point of the interview, this blog may be for you.
After the hiring manager views your resume and your cover letter, and perhaps even after the company interviews you, you may need a little bit more to set you over the top of the competition. This is where your references will come in.
Unfortunately, choosing a great reference isn’t as easy as it would seem. There might also be a few great references out there that you can use that are more “outside the box.”
Last week, USNews.com posted a great article about choosing your references. Here are a few of their tips:
If you have many references from a long career, try to find the three or four best connections and fit it to one page. You don’t want to overwhelm hiring managers with too long of a list. Also, as you would with a resume and cover letter, tailor your list of references to the job position you are applying for. Use references from the same industry whenever possible.
Although you may not think so, family and friends can be viable options under certain circumstances. If you were in a professional relationship with a family member or a friend, it is okay to utilize these connections as a professional reference, and ONLY as a professional reference.
Unfortunately, not all of us out there are seasoned in the workforce. If you’re a recent graduate, don’t discount utilizing professors or summer job supervisors as a reference. These are the professionals that are going to know your work habits best.
Despite your relationship, it is wise to include a recent boss. Some employers may find it suspicious if your most recent employer is missing from you references page; this is especially important if this boss is a professional within your current industry.
Most importantly, it is important to keep your references in the loop. Ask permission to use connections as a reference. You don’t want to have your connections blindsided by a call. It’s never a bad thing to thank a reference, but if you have enough it is also wise to rotate your references. You don’t want the same professionals getting bombarded with calls; keep your list fresh.
As a professional search firm and employment agency, we implore you to use us, Crossroads Consulting, as your main reference. With direct ties to all the job listings we currently have, your best and most glowing recommendation will come from us. If you would like, it is important to think of us as your main connection to the job. We can get your information in there directly to the hiring manager, along with our recommendation of you as a professional.
As a full service employment agency, we want to be around from the first step you take towards finding a new career, to the last step you take walking into the office as an employee. At Crossroads Consulting, our mission is to put the ‘human’ back into ‘human resources’ and it all starts with you.
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