Читать книгу How to Get a Job In a Recession: A Comprehensive Guide to Job Hunting In the 21st Century - Denise M.D. Taylor - Страница 21

Who to choose?

You will want to choose people who know you. Often you are asked for both work and personal referees. It’s a good idea not to choose relatives because they don’t carry much authority. Ideally, choose people who are professionals with a good reputation. Former employers carry the most weight, also key suppliers and customers who can vouch for the work you do. Referees are sometimes phoned and if they can clearly give examples of your achievements, it will definitely improve your chances.

Get their permission

Ask general permission before you start your job hunt. You don’t need to contact them each time, but you may want to remind them you are still looking if your job search drags on. By asking permission, you show respect for them and their busy schedules. Not everyone will agree. Respect their wishes; a half-hearted testimonial is worse than no reference at all!

Letters of recommendation

It might be helpful to get a letter of recommendation that you can show when you go to interview, and that you can use excerpts of in your CV.

Brief them

Do they know what you have been doing in your current and previous jobs? Do they know what you are applying for? It can help to let them have a copy of your CV plus details on the job(s) you are applying for. Give each referee a copy of the CV and cover letter that you sent to the employer. Also, supply each referee with a copy of the description of the job you are applying for and a list of the specific features you would like them to mention to the employer. Make it easy for the referee to help you.

Have correct contact information

Make sure you have all details correct, especially phone numbers and email address. Also be sure you have their correct job title. It may have changed since you were last in touch. It’s more official to include the person’s work rather than home contact details.

Keep them informed

When you know that a referee has been contacted, give them a call to say thank you. Later, let them know if you did or didn’t get the job. Periodically during your career search, send a letter of thanks to your referees, along with an update of how your career search is going. Developing your relationship with them can only enhance what they write about you. This will be a positive reinforcement of your interpersonal skills.

Remember to thank them

When you finally get the job, you can let your referees know how much you appreciated their involvement. This will help them feel good about themselves and make them more likely to help others in the future.

Activity: Decide who will make your best references and get in touch.

Visit the website to download the additional resources:

•Many forms are available to help you keep organised.