Advice for Seeking Job References

Job references are an unavoidable part of employment these days, which means that you have to know people who are willing to vouch for your honesty, work ethic, motivation and abilities. There are generally two types of job references: personal and professional. The latter reference is usually the most important, but you want to include personal ones as well.

Of course, before you can add individuals -- whether old employers or family members -- to your list of job references, you need to know whether they're comfortable in that role and how they will respond. If you ask the wrong person to give you a reference, you could destroy your chances at landing that dream job.

Finding Potential Job References

Your address book is probably the best place to start when seeking job references. Here, you have the names, phone numbers and addresses for just about everyone you know. If you try to come up with potential references off the top of your head, you're likely to draw a blank; plus, you might miss out on a great individual who could give you a glowing report.

Scan the names and look for people who possess the qualities one looks for in a job reference. They should be articulate, professional, available, and a great phone voice doesn't hurt. The best people to ask first are those who have known you in a professional capacity, such as an old boss, a coworker, a teacher or a subordinate. This will compile your professional job references.

As for the personal side of things, you might or might not have to provide them. Most employers don't want to see the names of family members on a resume or job application, and friends are usually not the best references either. A mentor, however, would make a great reference to put on your list. The most important thing, however, is that you exclude anyone who might give you a negative review, such as a disgruntled boss or an angry and jealous colleague.

Asking for a Reference