Don’t think references matter? Think again. Solid references can be the “make it or break it” factor in whether you land that great job in Rancho Cordova. In fact, according to a study by the Society of Human Resources Management, 76% of those surveyed conduct reference checks for all candidates and 22% said they check references for select candidates. Only 2% don’t conduct checks at all.

So considering the importance of references, what can you do to ensure you have solid ones? Here are some tips:

Make a list of possible references.

Despite what you might think, you don’t have to use all past bosses as references. You can use colleagues or former customers or clients. Also, if you had an internship or volunteered somewhere, you may want to use individuals from that experience as a reference. In addition, if you’re a member or an officer with a professional organization, you may want to use fellow members as references. The bottom line is that you want to choose people who you are certain will sing your praises.

Connect with your reference ahead of time.

You don’t want your references to be surprised (or annoyed) by a phone call from a prospective employer. So send each one an email or give them a call to make sure it’s ok to use them as a reference. During your conversation, also let them know a little bit about the position you’re applying for and what kinds of questions to except. You may even want to email them a bullet point list of specific accomplishments or strengths you’d like them to highlight.

Offer a 360-degree set of references.

In other words, offer a former boss, colleague, and someone who reported directly to you as sources for references. This is especially important if you’re applying for a management position in which you will be responsible for supervising others.

Don’t taint your pool of references.

Even if you feel you were fired or laid off unfairly, don’t badmouth your former employer. Stay calm, cool, collected – and keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you could be tainting a pool of potential references.

And if you’re a talented candidate looking for a new job in Rancho Cordova, please contact Pacific Staffing. We can help.