Professional Reference Guide: How to Ask for a Reference

A professional reference is a former supervisor, current colleague, or mentor who can speak to your work experience. As opposed to character references, professional references are those who can talk about your job performance and work history, as well as how you’ll be able to handle challenges, teamwork, and job responsibilities.

Sometimes you will provide a list of professional references when applying to a new position. Other times, a hiring manager or recruiter for a potential employer may request references later on in the hiring process.

A professional reference further explains who you are in an office environment—beyond what your resume details. A good job reference is an invaluable resource in today’s competitive environment.

When it comes to professional references, it’s prudent to choose someone who has worked closely with you, and who has had a positive experience working with you. Follow these tips to find the right reference:

• Turn to a teacher or tutor: If you’re a recent college graduate or a first-time job applicant and don’t have a lot of work experience, you can use a teacher, tutor, or someone who oversaw your work as a volunteer as a professional reference.
• Keep it professional: While your family members and friends may give you glowing endorsements, you should look outside your own personal circles. These are considered personal references, which means they won’t offer an objective look into your skills and abilities as a professional.
• Find someone with significant experience: Someone with years of experience in your field should be able to provide a detailed account of your expertise and possibly even tie those skills to the job to which you are applying. A former boss could be a good option.
• Consider your current employer: If your current employer is aware you’re looking for a new job, you can ask them for a reference. Be careful to express that you want to stay on good terms with them.
  

While the hiring process can be lengthy, a professional reference request can catch you off guard if you’re not ready. Here’s how to ask for a professional reference:

• Ask before you need a reference. Whether you want to ask a former colleague or direct supervisor for a reference, you shouldn’t wait until you’re deep into the hiring process or even after scoring a job interview. You can proactively during the job search process so that you’re ready to provide a list of references on your job application or when a hiring manager or recruiters reaches out about a reference check. This will ensure your contact doesn’t feel ambushed and can jump on a call or write a reference letter on your behalf.
• Create personal messages for each reference. You should create personalized messages for each potential reference, which can help you build a connection with the person. This is especially helpful if you haven’t spoken to a potential reference in some time.
• Allow potential references to say “no” easily. While the goal is for them to agree, you should frame the question in a way that doesn’t make them feel forced to say yes. This will likely lead to a lukewarm endorsement.
• Give your reference a heads up. Give your reference fair warning. Even if they’ve already agreed, you want to provide them with a job title and job description so that they can be prepared.

In general, prospective employers will ask for contact information, either an email or a phone number, for your professional reference. A potential employer will either place a phone call to your reference or provide them with an email template, which the professional reference must fill out by a certain date.

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