Rules for references. Get your references ready!

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

References are an essential part of any job search.  References are as important as a good resume and cover letter. Before you will be offered a job, your potential employer will check your references.  You won’t be offered the job unless you get good feedback from your references.  Follow these rules for references:

Be Prepared

References should be presented when asked for, usually during your interview.  Have the list ready and bring it with you to the interview.  HR will typically ask you to fill out an employment application. You would present your references as part of the application process.

Choose your references

Choose someone familiar with your work. This can be both paid and volunteer work. It may be necessary to list someone from a volunteer organization if you are making a career change.  The person should have day to day knowledge over your work. Try to have supervisors as well as peers. If supervisors are not listed, you may be seen as someone who is difficult to manage.

Tailor your list

You may want to tailor your reference list. For instance if you know someone at the company you are interviewing and they will give you good feedback, put them on your reference list. But don’t just drop names. The reference should be familiar with your work and give you good feedback.

Ask Permission

Never put anyone on your reference list without asking them.  Ask them when you begin your job search or when you are contacted for an interview.  Find out how your references would like to be contacted. Do they prefer email or phone?  Is there a preferred phone number or time?  List this information on your reference sheet.

Prepare your references

It is a good idea to make contact with the people on  your list if you think they will be contacted. If you have had an interview and it went well, call or email the names on your list and let them know they may expect a call soon. Let them know the company that will be calling so they are not surprised.  This is also a good time to remind your references of your good qualities and successful projects completed. Remind them of your strengths and success that are relevant to the position.

Referrals

The HR person checking your references may ask your references if there is another person who is familiar with your work. The HR person may then contact them.  You may want to ask your references this same question so you can help guide them to make a favorable choice for you.

The last step is to check back with your references after a few days to see if they have been contacted. If they have been contacted you may be close to a job offer. References and background checks are usually the last bits of information a company needs before making a decision. Do well with your references and the job may be yours.

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Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation