How Important Are Job References?

The importance of job references 

While a one-on-one interview can give a recruiter or employer valuable insight, speaking to references with an established relationship with the candidate can help find the right fit. Here are a few ways job references are important.

Stand out from the competition

When everyone is trying to pad their resume with skills and experience, it can be difficult to whittle down candidates. “References can help a hiring manager who is teetering between two candidates, affirm a gut feeling or possibly provide insight into a question mark,” said Claudia Johnson, senior vice president, human capital, at professional search and staffing firm Addison Group.

Use your network to impress

Using top-level references in the industry you are applying for can impress a recruiter or potential employer. The more you network in your current job, the easier it will be to level up in your next.

Provide unbiased insights

Everyone does their best to showcase their strengths and skills on a resume, but only outside references can give an unbiased view of your suitability for the job. Companies want candidates who can fit easily into their workplace culture and meet productivity standards. A hiring manager can use references to get to know the real you.

Although you should typically avoid personal references, they can be used instead of professional references under certain circumstances. For example, if you don’t have previous work experience or your previous employer has a “no reference” policy, Sue Andrews, business and human resources (HR) consultant at KIS Finance, said you can use a character reference from a teacher or someone else in a position of authority who knows you well.

Prepare references regardless of a company’s policies

A list of credible references should always be a tool in one’s job hunting toolbox. Still, there is a slight possibility that your references may not be contacted, depending on the company you are applying to.

“It may also be the company’s policy not to ask for references,” said Johnson. “I see this a lot with larger firms who may have other steps in place, such as certain tests and cross-department or role interviews.” Regardless of the company’s policies, it is still wise to have access to your professional references, just in case.

When and how employers check your job references

Andrews said most employers wait until they are at the final shortlisting stage before contacting references. When they do check, she said, it is usually in writing or via email, but some employers may also call. 

According to Johnson, hiring managers typically will ask for three professional references. The references you provide should each offer unique value to the employer.

“Candidates should provide a mix of references, including someone they previously reported to, a peer and/or somebody from a different department that they worked closely with,” said Johnson.

When employers speak with these references, they will be checking the claims in your resume and interview. Andrews said to resist the temptation to exaggerate your skills and experience as it could backfire on you during this stage. [Read related: Who Are You Hiring? The Shocking Cost of Resume Fraud]

What questions a hiring manager may ask your job references

A hiring manager can ask your references several types of questions. According to Andrews, hiring managers typically verify how the reference knows you, then move on to questions about your tenure.

“They’ll want to verify any information that you’ve provided, such as job titles, key responsibilities and potentially pay, to make sure that this stacks up against what you’ve told them,” said Andrews. “They’ll also want to check out any claims that you’ve made, such as projects that you’ve undertaken or results that you’ve delivered.”

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Common questions a hiring manager asks your references:

• How long have you known the job candidate?
• Are they skilled in our current job requirements? 
• What key responsibilities did they contribute to your company’s productivity? 
• What was the pay scale? Salary or hourly? 
• How long did they work for you? Were there any breaks in employment I should know about? 
• Did you have any issues with them being on time? 
• What are some of their strengths? 
• What are some of their weaknesses? 
• Are they a team player? 

The hiring manager may even provide details about the job you’re applying for and ask the reference if they think you would be a good fit. [Read related: 10 HR Interview Questions for Employers]

Who to list as your job references

As Johnson said, include a mix of professional references who can emphasize your positive attributes. For example, a manager can attest to your punctuality and ability to meet deadlines, whereas a co-worker can attest to your teamwork skills. A current or former client can speak on behalf of your excellent customer service skills and a supervisee can comment on your management abilities. Job hunting college graduates can also use former professors.

Andrews said the best job references are from direct managers who know you well and can speak confidently and positively about your abilities.

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The best mix of professional references to provide:

• Managers (direct manager is best)
• Co-workers
• Current or former clients
• Supervisees
• Leaders at organizations you have volunteered for
• Teachers or mentors

“You want someone who is familiar with your work and can talk knowledgeably about your achievements,” Andrews said. “If possible, avoid asking for a reference from someone whose own written or verbal skills are lacking, as this could mean a less-than-enthusiastic reference.”

“Once the new employer is at the final decision stage, they will probably want a reference from your most recent manager,” said Andrews. “In this case, you can ask for a firm job offer to be made first, which can be subject to a good reference.”

Why bad references can hurt your job prospects

A bad reference is often imagined as a spiteful past employer who says slanderous things about you. However, employee defamation laws make it uncommon for previous employers to spread damaging lies about candidates. 

Instead, a bad reference is typically someone who is ill-prepared, quiet or unresponsive. If a reference speaks in vague terms or gives short responses, it may reflect poorly on you.

According to Andrews, most hiring managers will understand if a reference isn’t as positive as you had hoped as long as you have a genuine explanation for the discrepancies.

“Maybe you just didn’t get along with a particular manager or perhaps they are still aggrieved that you left the organization,” said Andrews. “However, if there’s a pattern to the references, such as reports of poor performance or being difficult to manage, then this will be very damaging to your job prospects.”

Choose your job references carefully. Andrews advised that prospects who foresee potential issues with a reference or past employer should inform the hiring manager upfront to prevent surprises later.

How to get good job references

Getting a good job reference takes effort. Don’t just list a few random co-workers and a former boss. Expect them to be available and prepared to praise you. 

Since a recruiter or potential employer usually calls references, consider speaking with each potential reference to see how they react when talking with you on the phone. Always end with “Are you willing to be a favorable reference?” If they hesitate at all, it’s best to choose another reference who is confident in your skills.

Johnson said this notification will prepare your reference for what’s to come, minimizing the risk of being caught off guard and accidentally giving you a less-than-stellar reference.

Give your references details about each job opportunity. References could be the deciding factor between the final round of candidates, so providing them with a heads-up about the personality and skill set of the person calling can be a huge help, too.

If one of your references is contacted and they tell you, it’s best to follow up with a thank-you note. You can even go one step further and offer to repay the favor. You never know when you will need them as a reference again and good references can be difficult to come by.

Good job references best practices:

• Ask your references for permission before providing their information to a recruiter or potential employer.
• Notify your reference every time you apply for a new position.
• Be transparent about what the new position entails and what qualities/skills you want them to feature.
• Keep up with who may be contacting them (name and position).
• Thank the reference every time they notify you that they’ve been contacted. Offer to repay the favor.

Additional reporting by Julie Thompson. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.