With such stiff competition in the current job market, it is more important than ever to have the right marketing package to sell yourself to potential employers. Having an effective cover letter and résumé can get you an interview, and interviewing well can get you to the next step as one of the front-runners for the job. But references can help seal the deal — or break it.

"When a company is hiring you, it is making a massive investment," Employment Digest says. "It is obvious that anybody making such a large investment will make sure that they're making the right choice.

"This choice will largely be influenced by the references that you provide," Employment Digest continues. "If an employer has interviewed two equally good individuals for a particular position, the next obvious step for them to take is to contact at least a couple of references."

Because you're putting a potential job in the hands of other people, it is imperative that you select your references carefully. A recent survey by The Creative Group revealed how a bad reference can torch a job prospect. The 250 advertising and marketing executives surveyed shared some of their experiences with poor references:

• "I was told that the candidate didn't do the work he claimed to do during the interview."
• "The candidate said she'd worked for a specific agency, and we found out that she didn't."
• "I checked the reference, and the fellow just started laughing. He could not believe he was a reference."
• "The reference had never heard of the person."

"Job seekers need to do everything they can to line up outstanding references, especially in the current hiring environment," Megan Slabinski, executive director of The Creative Group, said in a statement. "The best references aren't necessarily the contacts with the most impressive job titles but those who can speak persuasively about an applicant's merits."

Selecting a Reference
Don't wait until the last minute to choose your references. According to Best-Job-Interview.com, "Ideally you want to organize about three to five reference checks that meet the following criteria:"

• Are knowledgeable of your abilities and strengths;
• Are able to confirm your résumé information;
• Are able to provide an accurate assessment of your work;
• Are easily contactable; and
• Are as current as possible.

Avoid listing friends and family or people who only know you in a social capacity, Best-Job-Interview.com warns. "Stick to people who have worked with you or who can discuss your work-related qualities." These include supervisors, colleagues, customers and, if you've worked with a staffing agency, the recruiter or placement personnel.

When you've figured out who you want as your references, ask for their permission before citing them as a reference. "Most people will have no problem with that, or might even be flattered with the proposal; however, some people might decline your request for whatever reason," Employment News adds. "Be prepared for that."

Once you have your list of references, verify all their details such as the correct spelling of their name, current position and title, phone numbers and e-mail addresses, advises Best-Job-Interview.com. At the same time, brief them about the job you are seeking and provide them with an updated résumé plus a listing of your skills and accomplishments.

List your references on a different sheet of paper, not on your résumé, another Employment News article advises. Have the sheet ready in duplicate, along with your other career documents, in an organized portfolio so you can easily hand it to the interviewer when requested.

Last, thank your references, even if they weren't contacted. And, if you're in the market for a new job later, remember to complete the referral process all over again. "Don't assume old contacts will want to be on your list again or that they will be the right fit for future job searches," Employment News concludes.

Long-Term Strategy
To make finding references easier in the future, there are a few tactics you can employ in advance to ensure you'll have reliable references later. Job-Seekers-Edge.com recommends:

• Keeping hard copies of performance reviews;
• Keeping a hard file for copies of any positive feedback received;
• Asking for a letter of recommendation upon leaving a position, even if merely changing departments; and
• Staying on good terms with past colleagues and supervisors, as "all former coworkers and managers could be tapped as references," Slabinski notes.

If you work for a company that doesn't allow managers to provide job references, ask if he or she would write a recommendation letter on personal stationary instead. Good references could help you secure the job, Employment News says, so making the extra effort to ensure little is left to chance would be well worth it.

References

The Importance Of Good References
by Tony Jacowski
Employment News, Dec. 24, 2007

"But My Mom Said I'd Be Great at the Job..."
The Creative Group, Feb. 11, 2009

Are Your References Working For You?
by Kris Plantrich
Employment News, May 20, 2008

Choose and Use the Right Job References
Best-Job-Interview.com

Gain an Edge with Good Job References
Job-Seekers-Edge.com