Choosing the right references is a crucial step in putting together a professional presentation of your qualifications; one that will put your best foot forward with a new employer. Your reference list should be well-rounded with input from former supervisors, direct reports, professors, peers and even clients.
With that in mind, savvy job seekers are now modernizing their reference lists to make a powerful statement of their qualifications for a new position.
See the samples below for ideas on formatting your updated list of references.
Bear in mind, it is absolutely critical that these people should represent your best interests. Don’t hesitate to perform “due diligence” and make sure that they will favorably attest to your abilities in various professional and personal capacities. Talk to them about what they intend to say to potential employers, and consider the doing a reference check to get specific information on their feedback. It’s important to be proactive when it comes to your professional career.
A caveat: employers are not bound to call only the people you’ve listed. They are perfectly within their rights to call and request input, for example, from a supervisor you had not included on your reference list. And it’s important to realize that despite your best efforts, it is always possible that a reference, on your list or not, may offer unfavorable commentary that will jeopardize your employment prospects.
If you suspect that a reference is conveying unfavorable information, what can be done?
- The first step is to conduct a reference check to confirm a negative reference. To pursue legal action this reference must be documented by a 3rd party who agrees to testify if needed.
- Upon confirmation of a negative reference, consider a Cease & Desist letter from a law firm. This letter alerts management of the negative reference’s identity and actions. Typically, the very act of offering a negative reference is against corporate guidelines (unless a case has been identified, tried and found guilty in a court of law), which normally state that only a former employee’s title/dates of employment can be confirmed.
- The negative reference will likely be cautioned by management not to offer additional comments and – out of self-interest – is unlikely to offer negative commentary again. Allison & Taylor Reference Checking advises that the success rate of such letters approaches 100%.
Don’t leave the future of your career to chance. To find out more about creating a reference list, reference checking, and Cease & Desist letters, please visit Allison & Taylor.
For further details on services and procedures please visit www.AllisonTaylor.com.
Are you protected by your old company’s policy to only confirm the dates and title of employment?
Our experience is, that with a little pressure, most managers break company policy and speak their mind to either help or hurt a candidate’s chance at another job. Who from your past job will help you or hurt you – you need to know.
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Is your past boss badmouthing you?
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Interviewing well but not getting the job?
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Do you have a separation agreement with your past employer? Is it being honored?
Is your past employer giving you the professional and prompt reference that was promised or are they saying, “Well according to our agreement I can only confirm that he worked here.” Reference-Letters.com will find out what is really being said and give you the power to enforce your agreement.
Were you a victim of discrimination, sexual harassment or wrongful termination?
Your previous employers could be affecting your new job search through their comments to prospective employers. Don’t let them continue to hurt you and your career.
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You’ve put time and effort into your resume, developed your network of possible employers and recruiters, worked on your interview skills – but have done nothing but typed a list of your references. Don’t leave this crucial area to chance. References are the final factor in who gets the job offer. Your past employers – anyone you reported to will be contacted. Do you know what they will say? Reference-Letters.com will find out what is really being said about you.