Great References Seal the Deal

“Resumes win interviews, but references win job offers,” says Martin Yate, author of the “Knock ‘Em Dead” series of career books.

Reference checks are necessary for both job seekers and employers. References allow employers to confirm the information they learned from your resume and the interview, and decide whether to hire you or not to extend a job offer. An excellent reference will help the hiring manager feel reassured about their decision to hire you. 

The definition of “reference” includes two critical functions in a job search. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a reference is “a person to whom inquiries about character or ability can be made.” A reference is “a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment, given by someone familiar with the person.” 

Reference checks are often part of a comprehensive employment screening program, which can also include verification of employment eligibility as it relates to immigration status, credit checks, and background checks.

According to a 2010 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey, 76 percent of organizations conduct reference background checks for all job candidates. The survey defined “reference background checks” as the verification of information a job applicant provides or communication with people regarding the job applicant. This statistic did not include credit and criminal background checks.

Job seekers applying for positions with access to confidential information (related to other employees or the company’s clients) were most likely to be subject to reference checks, as were candidates for financial positions, information technology jobs, and frontline/customer-facing positions.

Some companies will check your references; some won’t. It would be best if you prepare your references for the companies that do (and those that ask for your references but never use them).

The first step in the process is identifying whom you should consider choosing to be your references. Stay tuned for the 2nd blog in the Employment References series, “Selecting Your References,” to see why whom you choose as a reference really matters.

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