I take a ridiculous amount of pride in being a good professional reference. After all, who am I to stand in the way of a person looking to improve their work situation or to make a better life for themselves?
Here’s how I ensure I am the perfect professional reference. If I’m your reference, and you don’t get the job, it ain’t on me, buddy!
1) I make sure I pick up the phone when they call. Getting embroiled in a game of phone tag only hurts the prospect’s chances, especially if the company is in a rush to fill the slot. Most people won’t roll the dice on picking up a call from an unidentified number. But if your colleague has tipped you off that a call might be coming in, take a chance. In the long run, it will save you time.
2) I make sure I take the call in a quiet location. If I am forced to whisper at work or am shouting over other folks in a public setting, the conversation will suffer. Since we are dealing with another person’s livelihood, it’s critical to set aside a few minutes to give the call your full attention.
3) I define roles from the start. I make it very clear what my role is with the organization so that the interviewer understands the context in which I work with the employee they’re checking on. I paint an honest picture of the frequency in which we interact and the types of projects we work together on.
4) Company unmasked. I will not speak poorly of the employer that the candidate might be leaving, after all, they are the one still paying my bills. But I will intimate what some of the inherent problems are with the company — perhaps the circumstances of why the person is looking for a new position. There are things about the company that I know the job candidate can’t mention – so I try to give them a small assist and do a touch of the dirty work for them.
5) Keep the door open. This might sound a little selfish, but as a reference, you have now gained contact with YOUR next potential employer. Communicate well and always end the conversation by saying you’re willing to speak again. Perhaps even follow-up with a LinkedIn request.
6) Karma. I’m tired of people telling me they didn’t get a job because of something they did in a past life. Karma is dictated by everything we say, everything we do and everything we think – in THIS life. Hey, at the very least, you’ll get the job in your next go-around. Be a Buddhist at work and give other people the type of reference that you hope for yourself.
7) Have a weakness in mind. The interview process is often cast in a rose-colored hue; blame both sides! The company will drone on about what a wonderful place it is to work and the employee will make themselves sound like a success on all fronts. During the employee background check process, the employer will often ask a reference to talk about the candidate’s “weakness.” Have an answer in mind before the call comes in. Go with the old standbys: ‘Mike is often too hard on himself’ or ‘Sally is a bit of a perfectionist.’
8) It’s a commitment. When you agree to be a reference you might get one call or 10. If you commit to being an ambassador of good will, be prepared to help the person find a new job any way possible. The call might come in a week from now or even in a year or two. Good references are hard to find, so when you say ‘yes’ either set conditions or accept the job on a long-term basis.
When a person lands the job, they’ve done so because of their work experience and other factors. Your kind words, while important, are usually gravy. Aside from a hearty ‘thank you,’ you shouldn’t expect anything for your job as a reference. The only glory you’ll get is feeling good about yourself — and that should be good enough.
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