ESS Direct News

Why References Really Matter

Why References Really Matter (importance of keeping references fresh & current)

So, you’ve scoured most every internet job site and you’re up-to-speed on all of the latest tips and tricks on how to write the perfect cover letter and pimp your resume. Next, you score the Holy Grail of interviews and you bag the perfect suit; you’re shaved and plucked and waxed and groomed for your appointment at two o’clock.

You’ve long-since memorized your potential employer’s website, from their Home Page to their FAQs, and you’re all ready and rehearsed to give to them exactly what (you think) they want. That’s why today, in a digital world ripe with bells and sources of information beyond belief, references are more important than ever before so prospective employers can see through to any potential cause for grief.

While most agencies and HR departments screening potential candidates can see past any embellishments down on paper, there’s really nothing stopping them from picking up that phone to confirm your information. Enter the reference.

The best references are people with whom you’ve worked with in the past who’ve given you their permission to use them as a reference. Never use someone as a reference if they won’t remember who you are (or if they’re your uncle, or a brother, or a third cousin twice removed). By asking for consent, not only does it jog their memory about who you are and what you’ve done career-wise with or for them, but it also gives you a better feel if you should use them as a reference in the first place.

Make sure you call upon professionals who are genuinely familiar with the skills that you possess that would genuinely suit the job you’re applying for today. Be sure to have the correct spelling of their name, their title, and email address and phone number in your files. Checking in advance also guarantees you’ll have accurate and current information at your disposal and you’ll know they’re still employed.

If you find yourself in a position where a former employer is unable to give you a reference, or if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while for one reason or another, there are still things that you can do to help you build your credentials. Volunteering within your community within your area of expertise will help you build your reputation locally. If you’re volunteering for an organization or serving on a committee you’ll also be surrounded by like-minded people who can support you in your job search while providing you with a reference (again, with their permission).

The bottom line is, your prospective employer wants to know that you are who you really say you are, and not whom you think they want you to be. A glowing reference is an excellent way to help you in your job hunt, but if someone can’t genuinely recommend you for that job, it’s probably not the right fit in the first place.

Posted by ESS Direct | February 8, 2012 | Job Seeker. | (0) Comments.

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