Three Tips to Make Reference Checks Count

So, you interviewed for a position you wanted, the interview went great, and you were totally qualified, but you didn't get the job. Why?

References! These days, in times of economic disarray, executives are being scrutinized more and more for each decision they make, with a particular emphasis on who and who they do not hire.

So what can you do to make sure you have top of the line references? First, obtaining a good reference starts with being a hard-worker and a reliable employee. Employers tend to give great references to people that they wish they still worked with. So if you're great in the office, you should get a great reference!

Next, be sure to keep in touch with your former employers and your former peers. Executives often not only contact previous employers for a reference, but they are also interested in what your peers have to say about you and what it was like to work with you. Potential employers do not want to hear a glowing recommendation from an employer and then have that followed up with your peers describing you as condescending and a slacker.

Lastly, make sure that you discuss all of your references and previous employers in your interview. If you have had a negative experience with any employer, it is better for you to discuss it in the interview directly, rather than have your potential employer hear about it over the phone from a stranger.

Many of the points taken in this blog entry come from Joy Chen's blog www.JoyofHumanCapital.com.