1. Everything You Need to Know about References
By TorontoJobs.ca, Maria Zhukowsky
Whether you are an experienced professional seeking a senior position or a recent graduate in
line for an entry-level position, bringing a list of references to an interview may help you secure
that dream job.
This article provides some tips on dealing with the many aspects of references.
First impressions are key.
The reference list should be on its own page, free of spelling/grammatical errors and include
each reference's full name, position, company, email address, phone number and the dates you
reported to them.
Up-to-date contacts
If you have not spoken to potential references for a while, double check the accuracy of their
contact information. Ensure e-mail addresses and phone numbers are current so that there are
no roadblocks to the reference-checking process. Out of date information can frustrate
employers and leave a negative impression of you.
Request permission
Always ask your references for permission before including their names on your reference
sheet. Provide details about the position you are applying for, the skills and qualifications you
possess that qualify you for the job, what companies might be calling, the types of questions
they could ask, and the reason you are asking them to be a reference.
Plan ahead
It's important to get your references in order when looking for a new position - well before you
need them. If you wait until an offer is conditional on references being completed before
contacting them, you may be out of luck and the offer compromised, if they have moved or are
difficult to reach.
When you do make contact, request a letter so that you have something concrete to provide to
prospective employers. Networking with your references periodically, even if it's just to say hello,
is recommended from both a social and career perspective.
Seek good references
Think of people who have known you for a long time and can attest to your skills, qualifications
and experiences. Remember that good references who can talk about your capabilities can
dramatically increase your changes of you securing a job offer.
Bad references
If you're in a situation where you're certain a reference is not going to provide positive feedback
about you to the employer, make sure you communicate the reasons why to the prospective
employer. Explaining the situation, the context, and what you learned from it, may help you look
pro-active and better in the eyes of the employers. This is better than them hearing negative-
speak from the reference provider.

2. Not getting a job because of a bad reference is a difficult situation, but if this occurs try to find
out as much as possible from either the prospective employer or the person providing the
reference. You'll definitely want to re-consider providing that reference again in the future.
Strive for variety
Asking various individuals to act as references will reflect your work and personality. Besides
asking your former direct managers, ask co-workers, indirect managers, direct and/or indirect
reports, as well as customers or clients. If you are just starting out in the workforce, make sure
to ask current and former professors for a reference. Tip: It's always good to state your
relationship with the person in the reference list.
Get credible references
Recruiters may become suspicious if you limit references to only co-workers and friends and
don't provide names of direct managers that you reported to. It'll work in your favour to secure
references from people in senior positions since these titles carry additional credibility.
Company reference policy
Look into whether your previous employer is permitted to provide references. Due to concerns
about litigation, some employers will only provide references with your job title and dates of
employment and little more. If this happens, think about other employers that you can approach,
including managers that have left the company.
Multiple references
It is standard to have three references to reflect what different individuals have to say about you.
Having only one reference may imply to an employer that you have something to hide.
No references available
There may be situations where you can't easily get references because the people in those
positions are not around. However, with the availability of powerful search tools like Google and
LinkedIn, often individuals can be tracked down quite quickly. Be sure to utilize these tools.
Bring documents to the interview
Providing your references at the first interview, even if they are not asked for them, shows that
you are serious about a move and that you prepared yourself well in advance of the meeting.
Other documents such as performance reviews and portfolios are also recommended - and they
help differentiate you from the other candidates.
Requesting permission
A prospective employer should ask permission to contact your references. This is especially
important if you are employed - you do not want to surprise your current employer with this type
of phone call. Have alternative references available if you're not comfortable with the idea of
your current employer being contacted. Generally, recruiters and employers know not to contact
references, especially current ones, without your approval.
Say thank you
When asking for a reference, always be sure to thank them for their time and consideration.
Whether it is in writing as a thank you note or giving a small gift, you can be sure that your
thoughtful gesture will be remembered and they'll be more than happy to refer you in the future.

3. Conclusion
Staying in contact with your references about your job hunt is important and keep them in the
loop about the progress of your job search. Finally, be careful not to burn bridges with
employers since, at some point, a bad reference may come back to haunt you.