How to Train Your References to Help You Find a Job, According to a Human Resources Expert
Applying for a job and interviewing requires a lot of work from you – putting together the damn best resume the hiring manager has ever seen , doing your homework before the interview, and making sure you make a good impression in the room. But in the end, you may need to put your destiny in someone else’s hands… and provide guidance.
Referrals can be nerve-wracking because even if you have a great relationship with a former colleague or manager, you never know what they’ll say when the hiring manager calls them on the line. So why not suggest a few topics for discussion before that happens?
If you are using your current or former employer as a reference, discuss this first
Some jobs will ask you if they can contact your current employer to see if you are in good standing with the company. In other cases, you may have a strong relationship with your current boss and want him to praise your abilities as an employee. Either way, don’t let the call come as a surprise. Ask your referee in advance if he or she would be comfortable discussing your experience and professionalism with a potential employer, and be very sure that they are not going to downplay your superiority in an attempt to keep you where you are. (If you think your boss might be stalking you, don’t use him as an example .)
The boss can be a strong ally in your job search. What they say is taken seriously. Ian R., a music industry veteran and small business owner in New York, told Lifehacker that she pays more attention to a candidate whose boss “says he’s sad to see an employee leave and would hire them again.” Sincere approval from the boss goes a long way.
As for personal appeals, then work with them close to the call
When a former colleague or friend promotes you to a hiring manager, you’re more likely to strike up a conversation ahead of time. In the past, people who have written letters of recommendation for me have even asked me to send me a bulleted list of the attributes I want to highlight. Is this how a letter of recommendation should work? No. Does this mean your competitors aren’t doing the same? Also no. Think about what you want your referrals to say and they’ll be honest with them about it. Ask that your recommendations complement and reinforce the statements you made during the interview, and fill in the gaps for anything you would like to share. If your cover letter was all about how diligent and hardworking you are, ask for a personal recommendation to prove your flawless personality and great teamwork abilities. If your interviews were mostly about how well you handled a crisis or what ideas you have about the future of the company, make sure your references are ready to talk about what it was like working with you day in and day out.
Yang noted that she is particularly sensitive to the word “credible” and takes it seriously when the references state that a candidate is credible. On the other hand, human resource guru Tim Sackett, president of information technology and recruiting company HRU Technical Resources, said he looks for different qualities in every position he hires, so he looks for descriptions from recommendations that match what will be the job. “I might need someone who can really work independently without much direction in one position, but someone who would rather work in a team and follow a certain direction in another,” he noted. In the same way that you were taught to insert words from a job listing into a cover letter, prepare your referees to talk specifically about the expectations mentioned in the job description.
Sackett also places particular emphasis on ascertaining the candidate’s work ethic. He wants to hear that the potential hire is “getting the job done” and is willing to collaborate on his job. Ideally, he says, the handbook should provide specific examples of completed projects, not just general information about how to work with them.
How will your references be contacted?
One thing to consider: how will your references be contacted? Sacknett noted that digital recommendations, such as a Q&A form that recommendations fill out, can be more helpful to hiring managers than a phone call. He noted that when referees are contacted in person or by phone, candidates are almost never turned down, but rejection rates are higher—about 10%—when digital forms are sent to referrs. If you can, find out what kind of referrals you will be asked to complete. If it’s a form, get into your head what you hope they’ll say and offer specific examples of your work that they can highlight. As long as they focus on your reliability and ability to do shit, you should be golden.