References References Can Work For You Sooner or later in your job campaign, you are going to be asked for the names of three to five references. Some may be former employers, others may be contacts from non-work settings. In either case, your references and what they say about you can make the difference between getting a job or finishing out of the running. Here are some tips for making references a strong addition to your application. It goes without saying that you should always request permission to use a person's name as a reference.
Many people combine the request to use a reference with the process of briefing, cited below.
Brief Your Contacts Make sure the people you are using as references know about your current, as well as past, experiences. They should also be aware of the kind of work you seek. One of the best ways to do this is to provide them with a complete current resume, augmented by notes on things you may want them to emphasize. To the extent that persons you list as references are well known and respected in your community, what they say about you will carry more weight. Ideally, references should be people who are leaders in an organization at the management or professional level.