"Care and Maintenance of Your References"
Many job seekers treat their references in a casual, off-handed manner as though they were not really very important.
Truth is, they can be absolutely critical and could spell the difference between employment or added months of job search.
So, what are the practical steps you can take to make sure your references do the best job for you?
IF they agree, give them your resume, tell them about your goals and liabilities and brief them on how you intend to strategically utilize them in your search.
UPDATE them as your search continues so they feel a part of the process (and don’t forget you!).
ONLY give out references at the conclusion of a successful interview, never in general mailings or over the phone. This latter practice can quickly lead to reference ‘fatigue.’
WARN your references when they can expect a call so they can refresh their memories and support your interview statements.
FOLLOW-UP with your references to determine if the check occurred and what happened. This will allow upgraded strategies for the next interview.
INFORM and THANK them so they feel a shared sense of accomplishment with you if an offer occurs.
ACT as their references if/when they need to make a change.
- ASK them if they will be references for you. You would be amazed at how many people give out names as references without checking in advance.
With these simple steps, you can be sure that your references do the optimum job for you.
Return to the Main Resume Writing Articles Page
©1999-2008.
.