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It is inevitable that as you progress through the recruitment process you will be asked to provide references for your recruiter or prospective employer to check. It’s a great sign as it means you are closer to an offer! But how do you choose references that will not only be positive but also honest and relevant?
There are a few factors you should consider and we have put together these tips to help you pick the most appropriate people to ask:
Ideally, you should look to a previous manager to be your reference. They are able to comment on your recent performance and how they managed to get the best from you. Their insight could be invaluable in securing the role with your prospective employer.
But, as the saying goes, people join companies and leave managers. So, what should you do if you don’t feel your manager can give you a positive and/or objective reference? If there were issues in the relationship with your manager there are a couple of options that you have. Do you have a previous manager or supervisor from another role within your current company or did your manager change during the time you were there? Or, if there aren’t other managers, is there an indirect manager or more senior stakeholder who could comment from a different viewpoint?
As a rule of thumb, it’s best not to ask your current manager unless you know your time with the company is coming to an end (i.e. you are being made redundant, it is a contract or you have already handed in your notice). Having said that, your most recent role is likely the one that is most relevant to the role you are interviewing for and therefore the prospective employer may insist on getting feedback about that role. So how do you make it work?
Firstly, is there someone that you can trust who has left your organisation and who could be a positive referee. They don’t need to be a current employee of your organisation but they do need to have worked with you during their tenure. A previous manager, indirect manager or senior stakeholder, who has since left the company, would be perfect.
Your references should increase your appeal to a prospective employer and back up what you have said in your CV and throughout the interview process.
“Not all references are created equal, a relevant and recent reference that further ties your skills to the role you are applying for is worth its weight in gold. Previous managers are ideal however, you may get a better reference from someone more senior such as a Financial Controller or CFO whose words hold more gravitas. Obviously, you will need to have got on well and they will need to be able to attest to your abilities.” says John Marx, Director of Halliday Marx.
If you are applying for a role as a senior finance analyst, a big part of the reference check will be focused on your analytical abilities. If one of your referees is from when you were an AP clerk, they aren’t going to be able to add the necessary details to back up your analytical skills.
It’s all very well briefing your previous managers or CFOs that they may be contacted, but it might add more credibility if you have a written reference on an A4 company letterhead that is signed by your referee ready to hand over. It should outline your skills, timekeeping, and attitude as well as specific examples of your strengths and the development areas that you have addressed whilst in that role.
“Remember you haven’t got the job yet, so you want the referees you submit to be people you had good relationships with but also that can enhance your application rather than detract from it.” says John Marx, Director of Halliday Marx.
Should your referee not be able to give you an A4 written reference because of company policy, then you should make sure that they will be able to speak directly with the recruiter / line manager or return emails quickly. You might think it looks impressive to share the CFO’s details to act as a referee but what is the likelihood that they will be available to speak?
When choosing, and then asking someone if they can act as a referee for you, be sure to ask them when they are available for a call and which is the best number to reach them on (additionally, let them know who will be calling, if you know), then share the details with your recruiter.
While your referee may have the best of intentions to act as your reference, if they can’t be contacted and don’t return a call, it may seem as if they don’t wish to provide a reference for you, which could raise questions over what you have said throughout the process. To avoid this happening, pick someone that is available and identify a time when they can speak freely – the sooner the better.
By following these tips and thinking about who are the best and most relevant references for the role you are applying for, you will secure a great new job without any last-minute hiccups!
At Halliday Marx, we know how important the right references are in securing your next role and how a bad reference can leave your prospective employer with more questions than answers, if you would like any more advice on applying for your next role please contact us on 020 7096 8200 or email us at [email protected]
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