The final outcome of the recent March Madness season can go a long way in illustrating why preparation is critical, but in the end there’s no way of really knowing what might happen. This was illustrated time after time as brackets fell apart, favored teams headed home early, and others made an exciting and unexpected run for the national championship.
In sports, the impact of one individual such as an injured player or a team member having a bad night can create an unforeseen impact on the entire game or in the case of March Madness affect much bigger outcomes. The path to securing a new job can have similar ups and downs, particularly when it comes to picking the right professional references.
Somehow it’s always easier to focus on the importance of the details of the resume, finding the right attire or on the search itself. As a result, finding good references often becomes an afterthought left to the end of the process, but randomly picking references at the last minute will not necessarily result in success.
Building a Team of References
Choose Wisely – In the job search, a reference can impact the hiring decision. For instance, when you left the position did the departure come at a good time for the department or company or did it unintentionally leave your employer in the lurch? Whether or not it was mentioned at the time, this kind of scenario could still be a sticking point for the reference, potentially coloring their opinion of you and your skills.
Well Spoken – A reference will be interviewed about you and your skills. If that person becomes easily flustered or stumped on challenging questions, they might not be the best representative for what you hope to accomplish. Engaging a reference that’s articulate and well-spoken reinforces the appearance you hope to present to a potential employer.
Provide Coaching – No one likes to be left in the dark, especially when there’s a potential to be put on the spot. After choosing a reference, invite them for a cup of coffee and make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to articulating how past skills will be useful in the new position. Provide copies of your resume, professional affiliations, LinkedIn profile and a short description of the job position and company. Finally, ask what they honestly thought of you as an employee or co-worker. If the answer is not what you hoped to hear, it might be necessary to find a new reference.
Show Appreciation – Performing the role of a reference is a courtesy so try to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Ideally, the right person will want to see you succeed just as much as you do and they will have the needed professional skills to articulate your abilities, strengths and development in a way that demonstrates you to be the best candidate. Make it a priority to thank the person when they initially accept and after they’ve spoken on your behalf.
As a top Kansas City recruiting firm since 1988, Austin Nichols Technical Search has served clients in a variety of fields. Austin Nichols specializes in direct hire and contract recruiting for manufacturing, construction, engineering, and technical positions.
