There are many situations where, during an application process, you may be asked for one or more recommendations from a personal or professional reference.
It could be by a prospective employer during a job search or when applying for colleges or housing. In any of these situations, finding the right people to be your references is very important.
I am going to look at why you need good recommendations, and how to choose the right someone and then ask them for a reference. I will concentrate on professional references for job applications, but the steps of how to ask someone to be your reference are the same in most situations that require one.
Contents
Why Do They Need A Reference?
Employers ask for references because your past behavior and performance at work is the best way to predict your future performance. In many cases, an employer may already have done a police or credit check. Why do they need more than that?
A professional reference is someone who you have worked with or for, who knows you well enough and will speak positively about your skills, attitudes, and qualifications.
It helps them gain a better sense of you…
A professional reference helps them to fact-check what you’ve said in your CV or application. It also helps them get a better sense of your relevant experience, your skills, how you handle teamwork, and other areas of specific interest. Employers want to have an idea of your character, your trustworthiness, and your reputation in your previous workplaces.
Before hiring you, they want to learn about you and your capabilities, or any areas of weakness. They will look to see how you might fit and gain insight into how to best manage and support you if you join the team. Maybe you’re a recent graduate, or this is your first job? Don’t worry; I’ll talk about that, too.
Finding The Right People
If you have previous job experience, we recommend asking your former managers, supervisors, or coworkers. Be sure to choose people who can speak positively about your skills and abilities. Direct managers or supervisors will be able to comment on your strengths as an employee and highlight any contributions that you made to projects, goals, or company objectives.
If you were previously in a management position, a member of your staff can speak to what type of manager you are, how you direct and guide your team, and their experience on how you manage, coach, and support them and their co-workers.
Character references do help…
Reputable co-workers can also speak about your ability to work as a team or collaborate on projects with other departments. Maybe it’s your first job, you don’t have a lot of jobs experience, or you’re coming back to the workforce after a long time.
It’s best not to leave the reference section blank, but who can you ask to recommend you? You’ll want to list character references. A character reference should be a non-family who can verify your education, achievements, and values.
If you’ve just graduated…
If you’re a recent graduate and have never had a job, you can speak to your teachers, counselors, or coaches. Pastors, police officers, doctors, and others you have known personally for two or more years are often acceptable as references. Be sure to explain clearly your position to the hiring manager and find out what is acceptable.
Other options may be to search online or through social media, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, for previous colleagues or managers. Even if they are no longer with the same company or business, they can still speak to your capabilities and personal qualities.
Volunteer work is a bonus…
If you have the opportunity to volunteer while looking for your next job, there will be an opportunity for character references from the program leader or colleague.
Employers generally won’t check references until they are sure they want to hire you. Let a potential employer know you are willing to have them contact your current manager or boss but ask that they hold off calling until they are sure that they want you to join their team. They are likely to understand the situation.
How To Ask Someone To Be Your Reference?
The best way to proceed is to first make a list of all potential references. Of course, you will want people who support you and are credible in their own right. You want them to be articulate and be able to speak positively to the recruiter or hiring manager on your behalf. It is best to list people who you most recently worked with or for.
Begin your list with all the people you believe may help you. Depending on the position you’re applying for. Whether it is a professional or character reference, you are looking for. The relationship between you and them can pare down your list until you have four to five candidates. Most companies ask for three, but having a couple of backup recommendations just in case is a good policy.
Even if they don’t ask…
If a potential employer doesn’t ask for references, always take a list of three to the interview, anyway. Even if the conversation never comes up, offer them to the hiring manager before you leave the interview. That will let the employer know you are serious about getting the job and may help your chances.
Things To Think About Before Asking
Once you have decided who to ask, begin reaching out to the people on your list. Be sure to ask them if it is OK before giving their contact information to an employer! It is always important that they are aware beforehand and for you to let them know what to expect.
A reference who is caught off-guard won’t be well-prepared to give you a good review, and worse, might feel annoyed. It could harm your chances of being hired.
Did you burn any bridges?
Be sure to consider your previous relationship with them. Was it a purely formal and professional relationship, or did you get along well casually also? How long has it been since you had contact? Thinking about these things will help you determine if it is best to ask them.
Providing a reference may be time-consuming for them. Some employers ask references to fill out recommendation forms, others only a simple phone discussion. Ask politely and in a way that allows them ample time to decide if they are willing. Give them room to decline for whatever reasons. If they aren’t able to help, be gracious and move down the list.
If They Said Yes!
Once a hiring process gets started, it can move quickly. Try to phone your reference choices directly or even visit them in person. Email is impersonal, and people don’t always check right away if it’s not a priority. SMS messages also are impersonal for many people, while others prefer a heads up you will call.
You be the judge and choose how you decide to contact them. If your choice agrees to support you, advise them you will send an email detailing the positions you have applied for, the company, and any available job description. This will help them know who they are talking to when an employer calls and what to speak about. Be sure to send them an updated copy of your resume and cover letter.
An example of what to ask;
“Dear _______,
Thank you for agreeing to act as a reference for me during this hiring process. I have had/expect to have an interview with ‘Company Z’ on ‘Date.’ I expect they will reach out to you soon to follow up. I’ve attached a job description for this position to assist you in answering their queries. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you, and I appreciate your support.
Best regards,
__________”
Tips On Writing The Perfect Resume!
It won’t matter how good your reference is if your CV is a mess! So, check out my advice on the Most Important Skills To Put On A Resume, How To Write A Letter of Interest, and How To Address A Cover Letter, or perhaps you’d like to know How To List Education On A Resume and Achievements To List On Your Resume.
With so many outstanding guides out there, we’ve chosen our top choices such as the How to Write a WINNING Resume… 50 Tips to Reach Your Job Search Target, CVs, Resumes, and LinkedIn: A Guide to Professional English, and the Resume Format Guide, or how about Resume Writing: 10 Ridiculously Simple Tips.
Next, we also recommend trying the Marketing Yourself in the Age of Digital: CVs, Applications, Social Media, and LinkedIn, the Resume Formats book, and Land Your Dream Job: Make it Past Resumé Screening, as well as Optimize Your Resume: DOs and DON’Ts and lastly, the English for Academic CVs and Resumes all available online in 2023.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, once you have received an answer from the employer, be sure to follow up with your reference and thank them for their help. Even if the employer didn’t hire you for the position, you can use the reference again and may be able to ask for some feedback.
Keeping a personal file somewhere with names and numbers of possible future references may help you. Maintaining a good relationship with previous references is always helpful and may be useful again further down your career path. We wish you the best of luck in finding the right references for your job search and a bright future in your new career!
So, don’t burn those bridges, and good luck with Your References!
