| Employers seek references to validate the | | | | date of employment, job title and function |
| information a candidate has provided about their | | | | summary. |
| previous job history and to learn how to motivate | | | | Try to settle the details of your termination with |
| and manage a new hire. As a rule of thumb, the | | | | your former boss, ask if they will state the |
| better the job and the higher the pay, the more | | | | nature of your separation. The |
| rigorous the screening process will be. Applicants | | | | CountrysBestResumes.com, offers a reference |
| should always contact their potential references | | | | checking service to job seekers who are unsure |
| before providing their information to a potential | | | | what their former employers might say and |
| employer. | | | | provide job seekers with written details of what |
| The situation might be a little more complicated or | | | | their references said. |
| uncomfortable If you are asked to resign or leave | | | | |
| an employer under difficult circumstances, | | | | 2. Identify potential references outside of your |
| knowing where to turn for positive references | | | | boss |
| can be a problem. Even if you do leave of your | | | | When Julie Romano, 42, of New York, NY, was |
| own accord, your relationship with your manager | | | | fired from her job of 12 years, she felt very |
| might cause you a reason for concern. Although | | | | uneasy about using her former boss for a |
| employers are duty bound to provide a reference | | | | reference. She contacted who contacted the |
| that is fair and accurate, this may not always | | | | company for a reference. Her former boss |
| result in a glowing one. | | | | refused to give her a reference. Tawana Wood, |
| | | | | Chief Resume Writer at suggested that she use a |
| You Have Choices | | | | former co-worker, respected colleague, vendor, |
| While an immediate supervisor or manager is | | | | or client. Ms. Romano chose an indirect supervisor |
| always the first to come to mind, there are | | | | who gave her a glowing reference. In addition, she |
| plenty of other potential sources for a job | | | | listed the names of high profile customers, with |
| reference. Choices include co-workers, vendors, | | | | whom she developed personal relationships. Her |
| or customers. It is always good to ask those who | | | | customers all gave wonderful insight into her |
| have a more senior title than you or is well | | | | ability to effectively manage her accounts. |
| respected in the field to be your reference. | | | | Ms. Wood warns, however, "if you do not have a |
| Employed job seekers are often faced with | | | | strong relationship with your customers you |
| challenge of finding in their current place of | | | | should not include them as references." You do |
| employment to provide a testimony on their | | | | not want your references to feel uncomfortable, |
| behalf while keeping their search hidden from their | | | | off-guard or uninformed and in turn give you an |
| boss. | | | | unfavorable reference. |
| If you are thinking about leaving your job or have | | | | 3. List your HR department |
| left abruptly, you should create a strategy that | | | | If you are worried your boss may say something |
| will not burn bridges or hurt your chances of | | | | negative about you, list a human-resources |
| securing a new opportunity due to unfavorable | | | | manager at your former employer. |
| references. | | | | In most cases, company policies limit |
| 1. Find out your company's reference policies | | | | human-resources professionals to releasing only |
| Ask to speak with someone in Human Resources | | | | your title, length of employment and salary. Many |
| to find out your employer's policies regarding | | | | companies have strict rules and won't divulge the |
| references. Many companies will only verify your | | | | details of a separation. |