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Some companies only allow employees to release basic information such as employment tenure. Some may only allow for written references. Confirming your company's reference policy can help ensure that you provide the best possible verbal reference. If an employee or colleague asks you to give her a reference, make sure you can positively accept the request. If you have had a good experience with the person and can support her application, then offer to provide a reference with the potential employer. Don't offer to serve as a reference if you cannot say something positive about the person. You don't want to subvert her chances of getting the job. Only agree to speak to a potential employer if you've worked with the person for a while. It may be difficult to answer questions about a person or her skills in a few months. Make sure that you are the appropriate person to provide the reference, which may require checking with your boss or the company's policies on references. You'll need some basic information from the person about the job for which they're applying and any other relevant data that you should know. Request information about the candidate's potential job and an updated resume. You may even want an assessment of how she thinks she contributed to your company or projects and how she could benefit her new workplace. You should also collect any information pertinent to the person's job for you such as performance reviews. Consider reading through your correspondence with the person to get an assessment of their professionalism and how they work. You can also use performance reviews for this purpose. Most verbal references are provided by phone and you'll want to schedule a time to speak with the candidate's potential employer. Setting aside a specific time to discuss the candidate can help ensure that you are able to give a comprehensive, professional, and positive reference. Either have the candidate give your contact information to the potential employer or ask the candidate for the appropriate data at the new company. Make sure you schedule the appointment for a time when you are relaxed and not pressed to make a meeting. Once you've had a chance to schedule a meeting and gather some pertinent information, sketch some notes about the candidate. This can help ensure that you don't forget important information about the candidate's skills or behavior during the conversation. Since you will not know what questions the potential employer may ask, make sure to write notes on various aspects of the candidate including how you know them and for how long, in what capacity you worked together, and an assessment of their skills. A verbal reference will often require you to answer questions a potential employer has about the candidate. Having notes and answer the questions as detailed and honestly as possible may help the candidate land the job. Make sure that you don't exaggerate the person's qualifications. You don't necessarily have to say "he's the greatest ever", but can objectively say "He's one of the best colleagues/ employees I've ever had." Remember that hesitating on an answer may make it seem like you're being dishonest. When you're answering the potential employer's questions, make sure to incorporate words that make the candidate attractive. This can give the candidate the edge over other people for the job. You can use a variety of verbs, nouns and adjectives to describe the person. The more descriptive you can be, the more helpful it is to the potential employer. For example, you can says things such as "Christopher is a very creative problem-solver," or "she communicates her ideas clearly." Make sure to use language that also incorporates skills the person will need in their new position. Only talk about things relevant to the person's job performance, such as his superior leadership skills or ability to resolve disputes among colleagues. Don't talk about his personal life because it may make himand you-- seem less professional in the eyes of prospective employers. Don't discuss anything personal including religion, marital status, age or health. Providing personal information could jeopardize the candidate's chances of getting hired. It may also be illegal depending on the type of information you divulge. Conclude the phone reference once you've answered the potential employer's questions. You may ask questions if you think it is necessary or will shed further light on the person. Make sure to thank the potential employer and offer to provide further information if necessary.

summary: Check your company's policy regarding verbal references. Agree to provide a verbal reference. Ask the person information to use for your reference. Schedule a phone conversation. Compose notes for the phone reference. Answer questions thoroughly and honestly. Incorporate positive and descriptive words and phrases. Avoid personal subjects. Finish the reference conversation.

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When you bring your cat or kitten home, confine it to one room in the house with his litter box and food and water dishes to allow it to acclimate to its home in a quiet, unhurried manner. Of course, make sure you spend a few hours interacting with the cat to help him feel at home. After a few days, let your cat explore the rest of the house. If you have a kitten, you may want to keep it confined to the main level of the house until he can manage stairs on his own. Most cats are easy to potty train, as long as they know where their litter box is located and they are able to access it easily. One major choice you need to make is which type of litter to use. There are many types of litter available: clumping, clay, silica based, and plant based (such as pine or wheat). You need to show your cat the litter box immediately when it arrives in your home. Cats tend to have a natural instinct to go to the bathroom in litter and usually are shown how to do it by their mother. By the time you bring home a kitten, it should have a good idea of what it is supposed to do. It just needs to know where the box is and it needs access to the box. Most cats prefer the fine-grained, unscented litters. An unscented scoopable litter meets this standard, as it probably has a softer feel on its paws. However, you may find your cat prefers a different litter type, especially if it has used a particular style since kitten hood. If you find a litter that your cat likes, keep with that kind or your cat may decide to relieve itself elsewhere. Clean the box daily so your cat has a fresh, inviting bathroom. While training a cat the same way as a dog is trained won't usually work, you can teach your cat some things. Teach it to play simple games and what it should, and shouldn't, scratch on. For example, set up an agility course for the cat in your living room and clicker train it to go through it. You can even teach an Abyssinian to walk outside on a leash! Provide a scratching post. To keep your furniture and wood trim safe from cat scratching, provide your Abyssinian with a scratching post or similar item to scratch. Scratching is a normal, healthy activity to help remove the dead outer part of the claws, to let the cat mark its territory, and to give it necessary exercise. If you catch your cat using a non-acceptable item as a scratching post, do not yell or hit the cat. Instead, pick it up and place it near the scratching post. To keep the cat from using unacceptable items you can use a cat deterrent spray, especially those with the smell of citrus, to keep them away from these items. Abyssinian cats are very smart, and so they need to be entertained and stimulated mentally. This does not mean that the cat will always be in the mood to play with you, but you should try to when the cat acts interested. Laser pointer toys are a great way to exercise your cat. They are also a good way to have some fun with your cat. Have a bunch of toys available to your cat, so that it hopefully plays with them instead of getting into trouble. Provide puzzle feeders and balls and mice to keep your cat occupied. Place a bird feeder outside your window where the cat can see it. This could potentially entertain your cat for hours. Get the cat a cat tree to climb. It would be good to place it in front of a window, so it can climb and get a good view at the same time.
summary: Introduce a new kitten or cat to its home gradually. Train your cat to use its litter box. Teach your cat basic skills. Play with your cat. Provide stimulation for your Abyssinian, even when you are not home.