How to Choose the Best Referees Going Ahead

Professional References: Why They Matter and How to Choose the Right Ones

Professional references provide valuable insight into your skills, experience, and potential. Employers use them to:

• Confirm your employment history, including job titles, responsibilities, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving.
• Assess how well you match the requirements of the position you’re applying for.
• Gain perspective on your soft skills, such as your ability to work independently or collaboratively, and how you handle pressure.
• Identify areas for development, both technical and interpersonal.
• Predict future performance based on your past behaviors and achievements in specific situations.

Despite their importance, many candidates struggle to choose the right referees. So, who should you consider?

Who Makes a Strong Referee?

• Supervisors or managers you’ve reported to are ideal, unless a character reference is specifically requested. These individuals can speak to your performance and work ethic from a leadership perspective.
• If you’re applying for a leadership role, a referee who reported to you—such as a team member you managed or mentored—can offer valuable insights into your leadership style.
• Occasionally, peer references may be relevant, particularly if you’ve collaborated closely on projects. These colleagues should have had significant involvement with your work and be able to provide detailed feedback.
• Recent referees are preferred. Ideally, someone from your most recent job, but this isn’t mandatory—especially if a previous role is more relevant to the position you’re seeking.

Key Tips for Managing References

• Stay in touch with potential referees—don’t let these relationships fade.
• Think ahead: Before you begin applying for jobs, decide who you can approach for a reference.
• Always ask for permission before listing someone as a referee. Confirm their up-to-date contact details, and provide them with context about the role and why you’re applying.
• If you’re still employed, you usually won’t be expected to provide a reference from your current workplace—unless you’ve already resigned or have a trusted colleague who’s aware of your job search.
• Some companies have strict policies and will only confirm basic employment details (e.g. job title, dates). In this case, consider asking a colleague for a character reference instead.
• You don’t need to include referee details on your resume. It’s perfectly acceptable to write “References available upon request.” You can also ask that references not be contacted without your permission to maintain confidentiality.
• Finally, always aim to leave roles on good terms—you never know when you might need that reference again.

For more information, reach out to Merran Brown at [email protected].