After submitting your resume and completing interviews, you may be asked to provide professional references. This step allows a potential employer to hear from others who have direct experience with your work. It serves as a final verification, offering a third-party perspective on your skills, reliability, and overall fit for the position you are seeking.
What Is a Professional Reference
A professional reference is an individual from your work or academic past who can speak to your qualifications, skills, and work ethic. They are people who have observed your performance in a professional capacity and can offer credible insights to a potential employer. The main purpose of a reference is to validate the claims you’ve made on your resume and during your interviews, helping a hiring manager build a more complete picture of you as a candidate.
This type of reference is distinct from a personal one. A personal reference, such as a friend or family member, can speak to your character but lacks the context of a workplace environment. In contrast, a professional reference can provide specific details about your job performance, contributions to a team, and professional conduct. Employers rely on this to confirm your experience and get a better sense of your professional habits.
The information they provide can range from confirming your job title and employment dates to discussing your specific strengths and areas for development. Hiring managers may ask about your ability to work in a team, your communication skills, and your reliability. This feedback helps them make a more informed decision before extending a job offer.
Who to Ask to Be a Reference
Selecting the right people to serve as your references is a thoughtful process. The most effective references are individuals who have worked with you closely and can provide positive, specific examples of your work and accomplishments. Your choices should reflect a range of professional relationships that can collectively paint a comprehensive picture of your capabilities.
- Former managers or supervisors who can speak with authority about your job responsibilities, performance, and quality of work.
- Senior colleagues or team leads who can attest to your collaborative skills, your role within a team, and your specific contributions to shared projects.
- Former professors or academic advisors, for recent graduates, who can speak to your diligence and subject matter expertise demonstrated in a classroom or academic project.
- Clients or customers, if you worked in a role that involved direct client interaction, as they can provide a unique perspective on your customer service skills and professionalism.
How to Ask for a Reference
Approaching someone to be a reference requires professionalism and courtesy. Always ask for their explicit permission before listing them. A surprise phone call from a potential employer can be awkward for your contact and reflect poorly on you, so make a polite request and give them an easy way to decline.
Start the process early in your job search, well before you are asked for your list. A phone call is often the most personal and effective method, as it allows you to gauge their willingness in real-time. However, a well-crafted email is also a perfectly acceptable and common way to make the request, giving your contact time to consider it.
When you ask, provide them with all the necessary information to help them give a strong, relevant recommendation. Share your updated resume and the job description for the position you are targeting. Highlight the specific skills or projects you would like them to emphasize, as this helps them tailor their comments to the role.
Giving your references ample notice is respectful of their time. Let them know who might be calling and the approximate timeframe they can expect to be contacted. After they have agreed, and after they have been contacted, always follow up with a thank-you note to show your appreciation for their support.
Creating Your Professional Reference List
Your professional reference list is a separate document from your resume and should only be provided when an employer requests it. The phrase “references available upon request” on a resume is now considered unnecessary and takes up valuable space. When an employer asks for your references, present them in a clear and professional format.
The document should have a simple header, such as “Professional References,” and your name at the top. For consistency, try to match the formatting of your reference list to your resume and cover letter, using the same font and style to create a cohesive application package. This detail contributes to a polished and organized impression.
For each reference, you need to include several key pieces of information. List their full name, current job title, and the company where they work. Also provide their professional contact information, including a phone number and an email address. It is also helpful to include a brief line describing your relationship, such as “Former Direct Supervisor.”
Before submitting the list, double-check that all contact information is accurate and up-to-date. Aim to have a list of three to five strong references ready to go. This allows you to choose the most relevant contacts for each specific job opportunity.
Why Employers Check References
Employers conduct reference checks as a final step for risk mitigation. This due diligence allows them to verify the information a candidate has provided and gain a more complete understanding of their background before making a hiring decision.
These conversations also help assess a candidate’s fit within the company culture. A reference can offer a perspective on the applicant’s interpersonal skills, attitude, and overall professionalism. Finally, a reference check can uncover potential red flags or inconsistencies, helping the employer avoid a problematic hire.