The Necessity Of Professional References

[Gopal Vemuri]

During the application process for any job it is more than likely that the hiring manager will want references to verify you have held the previous employments you have stated and to get an idea of how you are as an employee. This is a very important stage for the hiring manager as it provides them with the added information they need to make informed decisions and ultimately hire the right person for the right job. References are typically checked following the interview stage and before a job is offered to an applicant.

Getting a reference can be a tedious task. (You should have these in place before searching for a job.)All hiring managers will want a reference from your previous employer, yet some companies do not freely provide their previous employees with a reference and only provide the hiring manager with confirmation of your previous employment. This will include the dates of employment, days you may have had off sick and whether you had any grievances while employed.  While this provides a hiring manager with a brief idea of what your work commitments and attitude are, it does not suffice as a reference.

This makes the case for having a list of professional references that you can call upon. This is a necessity if you want that extra edge when applying for a position. This can of course include your previous supervisors or HR departments, and possibly colleagues. It can also include business contacts, clients, vendors, customers and any other contacts with whom you have had a professional relationship with. For college graduates entering the job market a professional reference from one of your lecturers or student advisers will aid you during the application process.

It’s good to have a selection of references that you can call upon when needed. This means the right professionals for the jobs you are applying for. Most hiring managers will be looking for three references to help them make an informed decision about applicants, so it is wise to have at least that many available.

Last of all, it is important that you know the people you ask for references from rather well. You do not need to be friends with them but you do need to have an idea of what possible things they are likely to say about you. You wouldn’t want your chances of being hired to be jeopardized at the reference stage. You will also want to inform and ask the professionals you choose if it’s okay for you to give their name as a reference. Overall pick the best professional for which you know will provide you with the best possible chances of gaining employment.