One of the most common oversights when people are preparing their resume packages is in acquiring excellent personal and professional references. While most potential employers will not take the time to do a thorough background check of every detail of your resume, they usually will want to contact someone who has worked with you in the past. So, you want to make sure that you are choosing people who will represent you well and will be available when needed. If you're switching career paths from something like valve repair to working in retail you may wonder how valuable your past employers as references could be. Here are some tips for compiling the perfect list of job references.
Make sure that all of your references are willing to cater their letters to each individual employer. Most human resources managers and company owners don't put much stock in the form letters that are addressed "To Whom It May Concern." If you are applying to work with an Toronto caterer they want a letter that highlights your skills when related specifically to this field. Most employers would rather have the phone number and email of a reference than just a letter. This way they can contact them with their own questions relating to that specific job position.
Think about which qualities you would like brought out by your references and ask people accordingly. If you're applying for a job in publishing and you want your potential employer to know how well you deal with writers, you likely don't want to ask for a reference from your former boss from back when you were assembling crimp terminals. You'll instead maybe want a reference from one of your professors when you studied literature or a writer that you have edited for in the past. Most people naturally ask a former supervisor to be their reference. But many times a colleague is a much better choice and can give more information about how you work on a daily basis.
Make sure that you are prepared in an interview with your reference list. Your references and all of their information should be printed on a paper separate from your resume. You should ask all of your references for permission to list them for each job opportunity and list as many ways of contacting them as possible. Don't offer your reference list until the interviewer asks for it. If you're applying to install license plate covers your resume might tell them all they need to know.
Make sure you take the time to thank all of your references for their help and support, even if they don't end up being contacted. If a potential employer has a sheaf of resumes a mile long that reference really could secure the job for you. You also want to show your appreciation in case you need that reference again in the future.
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