“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  Although the validity of that statement can be contested, there’s no doubt that who a person knows can definitely be a factor in their overall success.  In this issue of The Animal Science Monitor, we’re going to explore the topic of who you know—or who your candidates know—in other words, the topic of references.  As always, we hope that you enjoy this issue of The ASM.  And in case you were wondering, we’re glad to know you.

—Dan and Don

> Using Reference Checks Effectively
> Managing—and Investing in—Your References

Managing—and Investing in—Your References
(By Don Hunter)

When it comes to your references, there’s not much room for error.

What do I mean by that?  Simply that gaps in information or lapses in communication can prove to be costly.  That’s why it’s crucial that you pay the proper amount of attention to your references, much in the same way that you pay attention to your resume.  In essence, you shouldn’t be just maintaining a list of references, you should be managing your references.

Gathering and mining the data
Even if you’re still in school and have yet to graduate, you should already have a list of references.  You should have three at the absolute minimum and five to seven, if possible.  These are all people who must have a comprehensive knowledge of your abilities and work ethic and also people who have granted permission for you to list them as a reference.  References fall into three distinct categories—employer, academic, and personal.  Make sure that you categorize each of your references in the correct fashion.

It’s advisable that not only should you meticulously document your references—updating information like physical address, email address, and phone numbers on a consistent basis—you should also track your communication with them.  When did you last speak with them?  What did you speak with them about?  When was the last time they provided a reference for you?

This type of information is for your personal, internal use.  However, for the purposes of your job search, you’ll need to track other information, as well.  This information includes the person’s full name, job title, and company name.  (If one of your top references switches jobs, you need to know about it.)  All of this data, in addition to the appropriate contact information, will need to be provided to a prospective employer during the interview process.  Depending upon the company, it might be included with your resume or on a piece of paper separate from the resume.

From managing to investing
Okay, so now you’re preparing to interview for a new position.  What should you do?  Contact your references and let them know they might be getting a call in the near future or within a specific timeframe?  Yes, but that’s only part of it.  You also need to provide the references with your most recent resume, the name of the company with which you’re interviewing, and a copy of the job description.  With this information, your references will be better able to tie your skills and abilities to the position for which you’re applying.

You can even go one step further by giving your references gentle direction, letting them know what they might be asked about.  Through your prior contact with the hiring authority or other officials, perhaps you have an idea of what’s most important to the company in its quest to fill the position.  You could ask certain references to touch upon key points related to the company’s most pressing needs.  This type of targeted reference could make a big difference.

In addition, make certain to thank your references often.  In fact, thank them every time you speak with them, and if possible, take them out for coffee if the opportunity arises.   After all, they’re providing a valuable service for you.  They might just be one of the deciding factors in whether or not you land the job of your dreams.

Follow-up is extremely important, as well.  Regardless of the eventual outcome, contact all of your references and let them know what happened.  This will keep them vested in the process and improve the odds that they’ll provide an excellent reference for you going forward.  And of course, let them know that you’ll be calling them in the future and that they should let you know if anything changes in their employment or with their contact information.

In the final analysis, you shouldn’t be simply maintaining your references or even managing them, but investing in them.  I’m talking about an investment of time and energy.  This simple shift in mindset will help you to approach your references in the proper fashion, so that you can maximize the effectiveness that these references have on your job search and ultimately, on your career.

If you have any questions about this topic, please send me an email at brg@charterinternet.com.  And if you’re currently engaged in a job search or are interested in advancing the scope of your career, be sure to send me your resume.  I’d be happy to discuss your career goals and ambitions, including ways in which I can help you to achieve them.  Any exchange of information, including resumes, will be kept in total confidence and handled in a discreet fashion.