News And Advice

Insights, tips and news for job seekers and employers.

How Should I Select the Right Professional References?

If you’re involved in a job search, you’ll probably be asked to provide professional references. Your references should provide invaluable information to a would-be employer about why you’d be a great addition to the team. The references you select can make or break your application, so picking the right people is essential to your career success.

To make sure you find the best people to act as your references, consider these important tips when making your selection:

  • Select references who are relevant to the job. Ideally, you want to choose references who you’ve worked with in the same industry as the position you’re applying for. If this is not possible, at least make sure you are selecting people who know you in a professional capacity.
  • Pick people who know you well. The better your references know you, the more they will be able to speak out about your talents and abilities. Listing a person as a reference who worked closely with you and who can provide concrete, detailed information about your talents and your accomplishments is likely to be a much better idea than listing someone with a known name or a more impressive title who only knows you in passing.
  • Ask your would-be references if they’re comfortable recommending you. Don’t ever pressure someone into being a reference for you as there is no guarantee they will say good things about you when asked. Approach your would-be references to see if they are willing to speak for you, and do not choose anyone as a reference who seems hesitant or if you aren’t confident will give you a good review.

Picking the right references is just one of many steps you can take to maximize the chances your job search will help you to find a position that advances your career. You should also consider working with staffing professionals at High Profile who can connect you with great companies in Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas. To find out more about how our staffing service can help you, give us a call at 972-991-7900 or contact us online today.

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