The Importance of References


Your references are a vital factor in validating want you can do and how you can do it. They are an extremely important ingredient to the process of selection and your employment.

The ideal reference is someone who was in an authoritive position in your previous/current employment. 

These are common questions asked of the people you identify as referees:
  • Your job title.
  • Dates of your employment.
  • Who you reported to.
  • Your key skills.
  • Your ability to work in a team.
  • Your position responsibilities and your achievements.
  • The management style you work best with.
  • Their interpretation of why you left the role.
  • Other information that may be reasonably relevant to the decision-making process.
  • We strongly advise you always seek permission of your referees prior to providing their details.

Possible Referees may include:
  • Previous or current management.
  • Previous or current colleagues.
  • Clients/Customers.
  • Personal references such as friends or family are not deemed relevant.
If there are potential problems with your potential references, it is always best to be upfront at the beginning, so there are no surprises when reference checks are performed.

Consider this, if your references don't stack up, warning bells will ring and your chances of securing a great role are diminished significantly.