Five Steps to Great References
Having a solid list of references is probably more important in the nonprofit social services world than in some other industries. If hired at our agency, you will help vulnerable adults with the most intimate details of their finances, family lives, personal hygiene and more. And so it makes sense that we check references diligently; if we are unable to contact sufficient sources, an employment offer won’t be in the making. It’s that simple.
Here’s how to groom your list for the best chance at success:
- Think about who can vouch for your former work performance. The list could include supervisors, managers in other departments, committee members, professors, family members of your clients/participants, etc. The key is that they must be able to speak to your work performance. As friendly as our workplace is, we are not interested in personal references (friends, family, etc.).
- Contact each person and have a conversation. Ask whether they would be willing to serve as a reference on a general basis, ongoing. Tell them what kind of position(s) you’re applying for. Ideally, if you’re brave, you’ll also have a conversation about your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll go out on a limb and ask them what they’ll be saying about you. You’ll talk about the skillset required in the jobs that interest you. If you’re not convinced the person will represent you well, look for other names.
- Also ask if you can contact them when a specific position piques your interest—such as a job at Jubilee. You don’t want to inundate them every time you have a passing interest in a position. But when your dream job comes along, you do want to give them the heads up that Krista Francis or Stacey Webb will be calling, and to ask that they make it a priority to speak with us.
- Don’t make the mistake of assuming that since you have a good relationship with your current/former supervisor, that person will be glad to serve as a reference. Many companies’ policies limit managers’ ability to give references. Specifically check; otherwise, it may hold up your hiring process.
- When you give us a reference list, please make sure all contact numbers and emails are current. As silly as it sounds, often our efforts are stalled by outdated numbers. And add a couple more names than you think you need in case someone is on vacation, honeymooning, or dealing with a family illness.
For more information on cultivating a topnotch reference list, see this article on 360 References on Krista’s professional blog.
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