In the media / Career branding
You’ve rewritten the résumé. Practiced the interview answers. Spent more time than you’d like to admit on LinkedIn. Then someone asks for references, and you scramble to pull together three names.
Give that list a little more thought. The people on it can tell an employer things your application never will.
I recently shared my advice with career columnist Vicki Salemi for a Tribune Content Agency article published on Yahoo Life. My first suggestion: ask a better question before putting someone’s name down.
“Would you feel comfortable giving me a strong recommendation for this particular role?”
That word strong matters. It gives someone room to be honest. If they hesitate, thank them and ask someone else. You want a person who’s excited to take the call.
Choose someone who remembers the good stuff.
A big title is nice. A specific story about your work is more useful. Think about who saw you handle a tough customer, rescue a project or help a team through a difficult stretch.
When AI can help everyone produce a polished résumé, those firsthand examples give an employer something personal and concrete to go on.
- Match the reference to the role. Who has actually seen you do the kind of work this employer needs?
- Give them a heads-up. Share the job description, explain why you’re interested and remind them of a relevant achievement you worked on together.
- Keep the relationship going. Check in before you need a favor. Afterward, say thanks and let them know how things went.
You’ve put real work into your career. Pick people who can help someone else see it.
Read the full article: How to choose and prepare job references who will vouch for you, by Vicki Salemi, Tribune Content Agency, published on Yahoo Life.
Looking for a clearer way to explain what you bring? Explore UpWrite Careers, or meet Joe Szynkowski.