How and Why do Employers Check References?

How to put references on a resume

How you provide a potential employer with references differs for each job seeker. For most people, the question of how to put references on a resume is simple — don’t do it. Instead, create a list of references on a separate page.

However, there are instances when an employer will explicitly ask applicants to add their references to the resume. In that case —and only in that case — you’ll need to know how to format references on a resume.

In short, if you’re asked to add references on your resume, add a section for them at the bottom of your document after your professional summary, work experience and skills sections. To learn how to list your references on a resume, we go over that in detail in our guide. Or, refer to our resume examples page for a preview of what a completed resume looks like.

Who should I list as a professional reference?

Employers check references to get a better sense of who you are as a person while verifying your stated skills and experience. So, identify who you can enlist to paint a full picture of what you’ll bring to the table if hired.

Typically, recruiters like to see at least three references for a role. If you have any kind of work experience, best practice is to provide three professional references who can speak to your performance, soft skills and hard skills. However, if you’re a student or just entering the workforce, a relevant personal reference may be acceptable. Here are some suggestions for choosing each type of reference:

How to choose professional resume references

For a professional reference, choose a person whom you’ve had a positive professional working relationship with. For this type of reference, you should choose:

• A former manager
• Someone who you managed
• The person you reported to as an intern
• A former colleague who can speak to specifics of your performance
• A mentor or someone you have mentored

How to choose personal resume references

A personal reference is someone you haven’t worked with in a professional setting but who can speak to your character and soft skills. For this type of reference, choose:

• Someone you’ve worked with on a volunteer project
• A professor or teacher
• A coach
• Someone who you’ve tutored or mentored

If for whatever reason you don’t have any good references, make that your number one goal right this minute. It’s critical for your job hunt since, without a reference, even a job you’re perfect for might be out of your reach.

Can they contact your current employer?

If you can’t tell your current boss you’re looking for a new job, interviewers usually understand. However, you must give them some solid references who can talk about what you’re like to work with and how well you’ve done in previous jobs.

Never give a recruiter or hiring manager contact information for your current employer if you don’t want them to be contacted. As long as you’re able to provide solid professional references, this typically isn’t an issue.

Does the employer call every reference?

Most of the time, a potential employer will call some or all of your references before extending a job offer. In rare cases, an offer will be extended without checking references. However, you’ll never know in advance so it’s critical that your references are solid and real. Never make up a reference, lie about your past jobs or inflate your professional successes. If a potential employer suspects you’ve been dishonest, it will ruin your chances of landing the job.

How to ask someone for a reference

When an employer is considering extending you a job offer, they will typically ask for a list of references first. Providing that list is a nonnegotiable to getting the job in the end. After you’ve identified who you’d like an employer to call on, you’ll need to ask them if they’d be willing to provide you a reference.

It’s critical to ask them in advance if they’re willing to be a reference. After all, you don’t want them to be surprised by a phone call from a potential employer and not know what to say. Being taken off guard could impact the quality of the references you receive and, in some cases, make the person less likely to be a reference again. After all, giving a reference is a favor and no one likes feeling unprepared.

Here are five tips for how to ask for a reference for a job:

Remember: Not only is it polite to contact each one of your references, it ensures that you have the right contact information for them (numbers may have changed). You also want to make sure they are willing to be your reference each time, even if they’ve done so in the past.

And if you sense any hesitation or are unsure if they’ll give you a good reference, leave them off the list.

What are some common reference check questions?

While every hiring manager will ask different questions, some commonly asked questions are:

• What was your relationship to the candidate?
• How long did you work together?
• What were the candidate’s daily responsibilities?
• How was their work ethic?
• Did they complete the tasks and assignments given to them?
• What are the candidate’s strong points?
• What are their weaknesses?
• How did the candidate get along with their co-workers?
• Did they take direction well?
• What were the candidate’s monthly or yearly goals?
• Did they meet their goals?
• How would you rate their work?
• Would you hire this candidate again?
• Why did they leave your company?
• Do you think the candidate has the skills to be successful in this position?