References … part of getting them to say yes
There are two primary sources of references: professional and personal. Professional references are typically those from people who can verify your work experience or who have done your performance evaluation. These can be former supervisors, managers or co-workers. Personal references are usually from friends or acquaintances.
Prospective employers will look to you for the source of qualified professional references. They will ask you for information about how to contact past supervisors or managers. It is generally best not to provide references ahead of time, but be prepared to provide suitable references when asked.
It is a good idea to be sure your recruiter knows about your references and whether you anticipate any problems with the kind of information your former employers might provide. This way, they can help you work around any potential negative issues.
When seeking professional
references, most prospective employers will ask for the name, title, address/or email address and phone number of your past
managers or supervisors. Typically, three to six references will be adequate, but this will vary depending upon your length
of employment with current or past employers, how much experience you have, and other factors.
Recognizing it is likely that you will be asked to provide references, it is usually best to have a list of references readily available. Prepare by contacting the people you intend to use for references and get their permission first. Ask them how and when they would like to be contacted. You should also send them a copy of your resume so they don’t stumble on dates of employment or past accomplishments. To help you gather and organize reference information, you can use a References form found under the Forms/Job Search Forms/References menu.
Most prospective employers will respect your wishes if your request that your current employer not be contacted for references. They understand that this could potentially damage your current employment situation.
Preparing a References Sheet (Content Guidelines)
For example:
John Jones, Supervisor, ACME Scientific Engineering
Contact Info: (555) 555-1234; jxjonessy@mygmail.com
I reported to John in the engineering department at ACME from 2013 to 2016 as one of his engineers. We worked on several projects together during that time that led to some significant process improvements for the engineering department. Since 2016, I have kept in touch with John on a personal basis.
References
Key Points