Many job seekers today underestimate the power of their references and are passed over for jobs as a result.

Just like checking your credit before applying for a mortgage or car loan, the smart job hunter will check their references before applying for a job.

Employers today are often forced to make decisions fast as they cannot afford to miss out on the applicant of their choice. Knowing this, you must carefully choose job references that compliment your resume. One bad, lukewarm, or incomplete reference could be the deciding factor between you and another qualified candidate.

How to Choose Resume References ...

1. A good reference candidate is someone who has known you at least one year - preferably three. Your list of references should include four or five of the following:

• Former and/or current supervisors
• Colleagues and/or subordinates
• Former customers and/or clients
• Former Professors
• Contacts from work-related associations or volunteer work.

Bear in mind that even if you don't provide a former employer as a reference, they can be contacted and interviewed anyway. You need to know what all your references will say.

2. A good reference candidate should be someone who bolsters and confirms the details of your resume and offers positive feedback regarding your work or educational skills and experience.

• Dates of employment / How long they have known you.
• Their professional relationship to you.
• Position / Job title
• Major / Degree.
• Description of your duties
• Quality / Quantity of your work.
• Leadership / Managerial skills
• Technical skills
• Oral / Written communication skills
• Decision-making ability
• Professional conduct / Moral Character
• Strengths / Weaknesses
• Employee / Interpersonal relations
• Budgeting / Financial skills
• Attendance / Punctuality / Dependability

Once you have chosen four or five candidates, call them to be sure they are willing to provide a reference for you. If it has been awhile since you have talked to them, take the opportunity to bring them up to speed on what you have been doing and send them a copy of your current resume to highlight your major accomplishments

Prospective employers are not detectives and will not waste time tracking down outdated information. Therefore - verify your contact information. Confirm phone numbers, addresses, and preferred methods of contact.

If the thought of calling your former boss makes you uncomfortable let References-etc. call for you. We can put your mind at ease. More info >>>

Our investigators specialize in verifying employment references. We will ask the same questions employers ask and when we finish - we will send you a written assessment of our interview - normally within 5 business days.

Imagine the confidence you will have when you walk into a job interview knowing your references are going to speak positively about you.

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