Providing References (Was: Interview from hell - recommendations)

[Penny Staples <pstaples -at- AIRWIRE -dot- COM>]

Personally, I never provide references with my resume. They take up too much
space, and there's the problem with keeping them up-to-date, as Lisa points
out here.

Here's what's worked for me: I state that I have references available on
request, and I bring a list of references with me to the interview. That way
I can prepare a list of references appropriate for the position I'm being
interviewed for, and I have it ready in case they ask. I've always called
the people on my reference list in advance, to tell them what I've applied
for, and to make sure it's still OK for me to use them as references.

Interviewers are going to decide whether or not they're interested in hiring
you on the basis of the interview. They won't bother checking references
unless they're really considering you seriously, and they want to make sure
you've been truthful. If they ask for references, then you know they're
serious. If they don't, then you don't have to spend any time fretting about
whether they're going to offer you a position.

Penny Staples
pstaples -at- airwire -dot- com

-----Original Message-----
From: Comeau, Lisa <Lisa -dot- Comeau -at- MOH -dot- GOV -dot- ON -dot- CA>
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU <TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Date: June 3, 1999 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: Interview from hell - recommendations


>Call me crazy, but why on earth would you use a reference you'd never
>checked out for yourself? I think this is one of the things we need to add
>to the list that Andrew Plato so diligently thought out.
>
>"Check your references before sending them off to a prospective employer."
>
>One of my favorite things to say (a 'Lisaism', if you will) is "Talent is
>subjective". Just because _I_ think I was a fabulous employee well-liked
and
>respected by peers and bosses alike, doesn't mean it's true. I would
_never_
>use a reference without finding out what they had to say first. And if I
>couldn't get hold of them, I wouldn't use their name.
>
>Another thing to remember is to update your references. I am put to mind of
>an interviewee who had a great resume, and several reference letters, as
>well as names and phone numbers of other references. I called a few of the
>numbers - all of which were out of service. I finally got hold of a former
>boss who didn't remember the interviewee until I gave a physical
>description, at which point, the reference said, "Oh yeah! But she used to
>have short hair - what's she doing now?" It had been 3 years since he'd
>heard from or about her.
>
>If you know someone's going to give you a great reference, fine, use it,
but
>keep in touch with these people so you can say to them "Hi! I'm just
>finishing my English Degree, and I'm going to be looking for a Technical
>Writing position. I just wanted to update you on what I'm up to, and ask
>your permission to continue using you as a reference. Is that OK with you?"
>
>Better to let old bosses and coworkers know what you're up to than to have
>them say "Lisa WHO?" when a prospective employer calls 'em. Plus, they're
>already contacts, this gives you a chance to network - if they liked you
>when you worked together, they may know someone who can use your new skills
>and talents, and they just _might_ recommend you.
>

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