Job Reference Etiquette: How To Help Your References Help You
You crafted the perfect resume. You rocked your interviews. And now, your dream employer has asked for your references. You’re so close to obtaining the job you want, now is not the time to drop the ball.
Your references are an important part of the job search process. But because they are the last step of the process, many job seekers spend more time with their resume, cover letter, and interview skills, they end up sharing references without considering reference etiquette. By not following a few simple steps with their references, job seekers risk losing out on that perfect job.
Here are four key elements of job reference etiquette that will help ensure your references are able to properly sell you to your potential employer.
Keep in contact with your references through the years
No one wants to be called and asked for a favour from someone they haven’t spoken to in five years. While life can keep us busy, it’s important to maintain relationships with the former colleagues and supervisors who may act as a valuable reference in the future. Social media makes this process much easier. It can be as simple as a short message on LinkedIn once a year to see how they are doing and what new developments have occurred in their career.
This also provides you the opportunity to update references on your personal career path and share what new skills you’ve acquired. This will help your references remember the value you brought to a company and demonstrate that you continue to provide value in your work.
Ask for permission before ever giving out a reference
This is the most common and most dangerous mistake job seekers can make with references. Not only is it respectful to obtain your reference’s consent before sharing their contact information, it also allows you to ensure your reference won’t be on vacation or unavailable to take your prospective employer’s call. At this stage, let your reference know what type of roles you’re applying to — who knows, they might even know of an opportunity for you!
Employers will be able to tell if your reference wasn’t expecting to hear their call. This signals to the employer that you may not have the communication, organization, and professional skills required to excel at your role.
Inform your references when they may be contacted
Asking permission from a reference is the first step. Letting them know when you’ve shared their contact information and with who is the next. When you tell a reference what company they’ll be hearing from and the job you’ve applied for, they can begin to reflect on how they know you’ll fit into the role. You can ask your reference to highlight specific skills you want them to focus on and what skills the role requires. This will allow them to easily reference examples and stories from their work with you when speaking to your prospective employer. It’s a vital step in ensuring your reference can help you obtain a job offer.
Most of the time, your reference want to help you secure the offer. They will be happy to have you share tips and tricks on how they can shine the best light on you.
Thank your references, whether you were offered the job or not
Providing a job reference for someone does take time out of a person’s day. Reference calls can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Your references are taking their time and energy to help you as best as possible, and it’s important to recognize that with a thank you note. Whether it’s through email or in a handwritten note, a thank you goes a long way in showing appreciation and maintaining that reference for your next job opportunity. Your reference will also want to hear if you were successful in obtaining the role or not, they’re invested in the process now!
If you have the ability to, it doesn’t hurt to show extra gratitude to your references by treating them to a coffee or a gift card to their favourite restaurant.
What are some other ways you can help your references help you? Share in the comments on Facebook or in the comment section below.
