How to Ask for a Reference for a Job

How to Ask for a Reference for a JobHow to Ask for a Reference for a JobWhen you ask for a reference, both whom and how you ask for a job reference are really important. You need to be sure that the person who is recommending you for employment is willing and able to give you a good reference. This is critical because your references can be what makes the difference in getting - or not getting - a job offer. In addition, you shouldnt give out anyones name as a reference without their permission. The individual who is giving you a reference needs to know ahead of time that they may be contacted regarding a reference for you. When References Are Required It used to be that every candidate who applied for a job was expected toprovide a list of references either attached to a formal deckblatt letter and resume in an initial job application package or at a personal interview. A few conservative industries such as education, law, and academia still expect you to submit your reference s with your job application. However, not all do. It is becoming more of a trend that potential employers do not ask for lists of references (at least not in an initial application) often because they themselves have a policy not to provide references to their own employees. This has resulted from the fact that disgruntled job candidates who failed to land new jobs have sued their reference providers for submitting negative evaluations to the employers with whom they are trying to secure new employment. How To Ask For an Employment Reference If you are in fact asked to submit employment references, you can ask for a reference by phone or by emaille. Email can be a good way to request a reference because if the person isnt comfortable recommending you it can be easier to decline by sending an email message than by telling you in person. When you ask for a reference, dont just say Could you give me a reference? or Could you write a reference letter for me? Instead, ask Do you thi nk you know my work well enough to provide me with a reference? or Do you feel comfortable giving me a reference? or Do you feel you could give me a positive reference? This way, your reference giver has an out if they dont believe they can provide a strong endorsement or if they dont have the time to write a letter or take phone calls from employers on your behalf. When the person you are asking for a reference replies positively, offer to provide them with an updated copy of your resume, to share your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, and to provide information on your skills and experiences so your reference has current and relevant information on your employment history and skills. Also, take the time to stay in touch and keep your references updated on your employment status. How to Ask for a LinkedIn Reference Its easy to request a recommendation via LinkedIns messaging system. When you request a recommendation, ask the person to recommend you if they can and if they have the time. This way they have an out if they arent interested in giving you a reference, are precluded by company policy from giving references or dont feel they know you well enough to recommend your work. Heres how to ask for recommendations on LinkedIn. How Many References to Ask For On the average, employers expect a list of three references, so have at least three or four references ready to recommend you. The extra one is handy, just in case the prospective employer cant reach the others in a timely manner. Create a Reference List Once you have your references set, create a reference list with the names, job titles, and contact information for each of your references. Print the list to bring to interviews and to send to employers who specifically request references with your initial job application materials. Do not send unsolicited references, though, to employers who dont ask for these. You dont want to take the risk that a) a reference might not have written a glowi ng review of your work or b) the new employer dislikes and/or doubts the reliability of the reference himself. The best distributions-mix to present references is at the end of a personal interview after youve already acquired the employers interest solely on the basis of your strong resume and professional background.