I bet I have prepared well over 400 resumes in my lifetime.  Although the contents and order of this document have been shuffled numerous times, I will still always keep the same line at the very bottom 'References available upon request'.

 

Unless your references are requested from you upfront in an online form application, in general, it is not a good idea to offer up the contact information of these people directly on your resume.  Most of the time, if a potential employer requests your reference list, this will give you a hint that you have made the shortlist for being considered for the position.  This will also give you a heads up to contact the people that you have listed as your references, to warn them they may be getting contacted about you.

 

But do employers actually contact references?

In a study completed by XREF (xref.com) 34% of HR professionals in Ontario admitted that they do not consistently check references for every potential employee.  This may depend on a variety of factors, including the nature of the job and how the HR department of a business operates.  For example, if a teenager is applying to be a general labourer on a construction site, their personal interests and how they may spend their free time may not be a factor in them being hired.  If the company is incredibly busy, HR may not have time to bother chasing references.  If the company is desperate for workers, they may lower their standards to widen the candidate selection pool.

 

What if I burned some previous employment bridges?

Although it is usually encouraged by employers to list a previous employer or supervisor as a reference, this is not necessarily required.  You may have had a personality conflict with that person or you may have left that job under bad circumstances.

Through your resume, it is your responsibility to show your best side to a potential employer, and emphasize to them why they should hire you.  You do not have to be full monty and explain your full employment history on your resume, as it should only be highlighting your skills and talents.  Similarly, you do not have to choose to use someone as your reference who may give you a poor review and contribute to your not getting the job.

Ideally, yes you should be using someone as a reference who witnessed you working in a professional setting.  However, if you do not have a person to use that you do not trust will paint you in a good light, it may be better to use someone else who may know you from a different facet of your life.

 

Who should I use as a reference?

  • a previous direct supervisor with who you had a good working relationship with
  • a previous co-worker who worked beside you and witnessed your day-to-day actions
  • a previous teacher or schoolmate
  • a respected person in your community who you may have worked or volunteered with
    (for example, a church minister, a person who sings in the same choir, or a sports teammate)
  • a client, if you are self-employed
  • a personal friend who has known you for a long time

 

Who should I not use as a reference?

In general, it is not a good idea to use a family member as a reference.  Your mom may gush about you so much so that your recruiter will know she is lying, or your brother may tell the truth about your lackadaisical attitude and inadvertently throw you under the bus.   That being said, if a relative is the only person you have to provide as a reference, this is still better than not naming any references at all.

 

What should I tell my reference to say?

First, ensure to ask permission from the person who you are listing as your reference before you write down their name.  This person may not want you to use them as a reference, and so may refuse to provide information about you when asked.  Let them know where you have applied, who may have requested your list of references to contact, and ensure they are aware they may be getting contacted about you.

 

What sort of things might my reference be asked about me? 

  • your work habits, such as punctuality, reliability, organizational skills, etc.
  • how well you work in a group or as an individual
  • if they can confirm the education and previous employment you have listed on your resume/CV
  • they may be asked specific questions about your industry, such as their observations of your money management or machine operation skills

 

And yes, most often, your reference will be asked point blank:

Do you recommend that we hire (your name here)?

 

Can't a reference just lie about me? 

Of course, it is expected that your references may beef up your reputation because they should want to support you to get the position you have applied for.  However, most people do not lie very well.  An experienced interviewer will be able to detect if someone is not telling the truth about you, and most likely has other resources available to pre-verify the information before contacting your reference anyway.

 

How will my references be contacted? 

With today's technology, your reference may be contacted by telephone, text, or e-mail, depending on their preference and schedule.  If it is not possible to communicate with your reference within a reasonable timeframe, this could detrimentally affect your consideration for the position.  Again, it is always a good idea to let your reference know they may be getting contacted about a job you have applied for so that they do not ignore a telephone message, text, or email.

Do I have any legal recourse against my reference if I do not get the job because they have provided a bad review? 

No.  It is your responsibility to provide the names of your references and to confirm with them that they agree to be used as a reference for you.  If they provide bad information about you, then you should not have selected them to list as a reference in the first place.

 

 

Agent K Private Investigations Inc. offers a full background check service to potential employers, which includes contacting three references provided directly by your potential employee.  www.agentkpi.ca