Checklist: Providing a Successful Reference

By: Laura Mohammad
September 23rd, 2011

The work of providing a reference begins before you rave about your colleague. Here is what you should do before you provide a reference, compiled with the help of human resources business consultant and author Elizabeth Lions and HR consultant and coach Lisa Chenofsky Singer of Chenofsky Singer & Associates.

• What kind of job? Before giving the reference, find out what kind of job the person is applying for. Maybe what the employee did for you was different.
• A heads up. The person who is listing you as a reference should warn you that they’ve suggested you prior to the call so that you aren’t caught off guard. It’s their job to tell you that they are still in job-search mode.
• Gather information. Ask the person calling for the reference for their name, phone number and what company they are calling from. If you’re not prepared, offer to call the person back.
• Verify. Check in with your colleague to make sure this is a valid call and ask him what he wants you to stress based on the job itself and their qualifications relative to it.

Giving a good reference impacts more than the reputation of the candidate — it can affect your reputation, as well. Here are steps toward giving a successful reference, compiled with the help of Virginia Backaitis, senior partner at New Jersey-based management-search firm BrilliantLeap, and Jeff Christian, founder of CTPartners executive search firm and founder of The Number 12 Foundation.

• Be fair. Give a fair, balanced reference, no matter how great or bad you colleague is.
• Call back. Call back the prospective employer immediately. Dead air doesn’t mean you are busy; it means you aren’t impressed with the candidate.
• Be specific. Talk about what they’ve accomplished. Be sure to give examples.
• Set yourself apart. Give unique responses that will set you apart from the average responders. Use descriptive adjectives that accurately define the candidate. Talk about a project or a situation in which the job applicant really came through for you. Don’t simply use terms like “hard worker” or “innovator.” Tell a story, giving the reference-checker a reason to write their own recommendation.
• Nature of the relationship. Share the length of time you have known the candidate and how you know one another. All stories shared should be of a professional nature.

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