References. They are an integral part of the job process, but do you know why?
Recruiters will often ask for them at some point during the job process, traditionally before or after the interview, and you may feel that sheer panic of being spied – not to worry, we’re here to help.
In fact, references actually tell a lot about a person. After all, if you deceive your way through an interview, your references are pretty much the only way to fact-check you.
Carly Siden and Nicola Dawson, Commercial Recruitment Consultants, share what happens when it comes to the world of references and tips for what you can do to have a strong CV that positions you as a safe pair of hands.
Why Ask For A Reference In The First Place?
Realistically, they aren’t always asked for by recruiters – it is on a client by client basis. When recruiters such as TeamJobs work with someone new, that person is given the choice whether or not to disclose references:
“At the end of the day, it’s completely up to you.
“Candidates should always have references available just in case, as a rule of thumb. Some jobs need these as standard procedure, so you’re barring yourself from a lot of jobs if you aren’t readily prepared.”
Those are the thoughts of Carly, who knows that if recruiters have doubts, you should provide some contacts to back you up. Without these, you could go down in the employer’s rankings, as it might look slightly suspicious. Depending on the thoughts of the recruiters, they could be questioning the candidate with the reference, or just looking for a simple go-ahead to employ that reliable person.
Even if the references aren’t sent to the client by the recruiter, people such as Carly and Nicola like to know they exist. It’s a general part of the recruitment process, and proves you can tick a box by simply providing some, whether or not they get checked.
TeamJobs Top Tips
- If you don’t think someone is going to give you a good reference, don’t get a reference from them
- It’s good practice to see if the recruiter/client wants references before applying for the role
- Always have multiple references on hand. This can be previous employers, lecturers etc.
- Having a variety of references looks good, inside and out of work
- When recruiters are looking at your reference, character and work skills are looked at
- Always thank your references and be kind to them – they have your back and you want your relationship with them to be watertight
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