Effectively Using Professional References in Your Job Application -

Effectively Using Professional References in Your Job Application -fruchtwein any lokalitt for which you apply will require that you provide professional references. Sometimes, deciding whom to ask and how to ask can be tricky waters to navigate, especially if your current employer is unaware you are job searching. Ive put together a few tips below on how to resolve common situations and help make the selection and request process for references easier on you.My Current Employer Doesnt Know Im Job SearchingIt is completely normal, and not at all a red flag or warning sign if you do not include your current teamberater or babo as a reference on your application. Most people who are job searching do not want their current employer to know about their efforts. If you have previous bosses or supervisors that you can trust, however, be sure to put them down as referencesespecially if they are in the same industry or will have exceptionally complimentary things to say about you.Because you will likely need to ask former bosses to be a reference at some point in your career, it is important to stay in touch, even if just via email a few times a year after you depart the company. For them to be a valuable reference for you, you need to stay in their mind. If its been three years since you worked at a company, and you dont stay in touch except to ask for a reference, its likely that you and your accomplishments will have faded from their memory a bit. This is nothing personal, its just what happens.You can also ask a trusted colleague at your current company to be your reference. Unless the application specifically requires a supervisor/boss reference, a colleague can speak well to your professional skills and workplace demeanor. Of course, if you are not comfortable asking your boss for a reference because you dont want them to know you are job searching, you need to make sure that your colleague is completely trustworthy and will not breathe a word to anyone.What if T his Is My First Real Job?If youre a new college grad, finding references can be a little trickier than it is for those who are mid-career. However, its likely that the positions you are applying for are more entry-level. Even if they are not, your resume will make it clear that you are new to the professional world and wont consider your lack of professional references to be a problem.In many cases, college grads will have supervisors from internships or work-study jobs they can use as a reference. Even if you worked at a restaurant or in retail, the supervisor from that job can speak to your character, dedication, and overall attitude to customers and co-workers. Just because a job wasnt in the exact industry or sector you are now applying for, dont discount the value that a character reference about your overall workplace behavior can bring to an application.But what if you havent held any job, and this really is your first job application? Turn to professors, to coaches, to any a uthority figure (outside of parents and relatives of course) who have been able to see you work hard, to grow, and to deal with other people. Do you volunteer for an organization? Ask the volunteer coordinator to be a reference. For professors and teachers, make sure they are the ones whose classes you excelled in, or with whom you had a great relationship. Dont just choose the professor whose class is most closely related to the job you are applying for, especially if it was an entry-level, large lecture hall where you barely dealt with the professor. A personal connection will be much more effective as a reference.Who Are the Most Effective References?If you are one of the fortunate people with a bevy of references to choose from, it might be tough to whittle the list down to just three for a job application. First and foremost, if you have a reference who currently works for the company you are applying to, include them. That person is the most effective and can speak directly to why you would be an asset to the company.You should also consider how recent your references are. One of your references might be able to give you a glowing reference, but did you work for them 15 years ago? Not only have you changed, but the world and the industry have certainly changed. As much as you can, choose references who can speak to your more recent accomplishments.Relevancy is another factor to consider when deciding on professional references. Of course, the quality of a reference someone can give you is most important, but if two people are both going to be able to provide high praise, but one is a volunteer coordinator at an animal shelter and the other is a CEO of a marketing company, they are going to be able to speak to two very different skill sets. Consider the position you are applying for, the experience you want to be highlighted, and choose your references based in part on that.Ive Decided on My References. How Do I Ask Them?As with any other request in the p rofessional realm, you need to reach out well in advance of when you need an answer. While technology makes instant responses easy, it doesnt always mean that people have time to type out a response or return a phone call the day they receive it or even within a few days.A phone call is certainly the most formal way to ask someone to be your reference, but email is perfectly appropriate in todays world. Just make sure that you do more than send a one-sentence email saying, Im applying for this job, can you be a reference? You should make it a longer email, asking how they are doing, and explaining a little bit about the job you are applying for and why you are asking them to be a reference. For example, saying something like I learned a lot about project management/customer tafelgeschirr/marketing data while working with you, and would really appreciate it if you could be a reference for this job and share insight into my abilities as a project manager/customer service specialist/ma rketing data specialist with the company.And, of course, never forget the thank-you. Whether you get the job or not, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note, or even just a short email thanking your references for taking the time to help you out. It will go a long way, and will make them more likely to be a reference for you in the future.ConclusionWhen it comes to selecting references and asking people to be your professional reference, you might think it is in awkward question. Be assured it is notpeople are often flattered to be asked to be used as a reference. It means you think highly of them and their opinion, and that they have had an impact on your life.So get out your contacts list, comb through your LinkedIn, and start making lists of people who would be good references for different jobs. And if you havent been in touch with some of them recently, reach out, say hi, and keep in touch. You never know when they might be able to help you in the future.Are you tired of you r resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never breakthrough the screening process. It shouldnt be that way. Thats why I created this guide and I encourage you to download the FREE PDF so you can start seeing better resume response rates

5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the Holidays

5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the Holidays 5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the HolidaysDont let your employment situation get you down this season. Use these tips to thrive over the holidays.While its never easy to be without a job, it can be particularly challenging during the holidays. But its the most wonderful time of the year Dont let your employment situation get you down. Here are some tips to help you survive the holiday season by gearing up for job-search success.1. Update your resumeEven if you are employed, its a great idea to update your resume annually, and theres no time like the present to give it a thorough overhaul. Since the holiday season is usually slow, its the perfect time for some resume housekeeping. Make sure your resume is formatted correctly and contains your latest employment accomplishments. If youve been sending your resume out for some time with no response, thats a good sign that it probably needs a tune-up. There are great resources ansprechbar to give you an idea of how your resume should look, and if writing one is not your strong suit, consider investing in a professional resume writer.2. Revamp your cover letterTake advantage of the holidays to customize a cover letter specific to the season. Adding a simple Happy holidays or Happy New Year is a safe way to add some personality to your letter. And of course, dont make the mistake of sending a generic, copy-paste cover letter that youve sent to every other employer. Just like customizing your letter with a holiday greeting, tailor it to include specifics about the role for which you are applying.3. Work is slowing down? Interview timeThe good thing about an end of year slowdown in the workforce is that hiring managers have more availability to talk to you. Find the important people in your target companies and ask for appointments. This can be accomplished by leveraging your network or contacting the company directly. Even if the employer is not hiring until after the new year, a meeting will make them more likely to remember you when the time comes.4. Tis the season to networkDecember is the prime season for parties, so take advantage of the opportunity to get out there and talk to people. Whether its a networking event or your spouses holiday party, you can use this chance to get dressed up and show off your elevator pitch. Meeting new people, finding out what they do, and asking for introductions is never wasted time. Remember the cardinal rule of any professional gathering, though, and do not overindulge on the eggnogRelated Fresh Networking Conversation Starters for Your Next Holiday Party5. Get into gratitude.Think about starting a gratitude list of all the things for which you are thankful. Its okay if you include more negative things like not having to absprache with THAT person at your former job or a particularly nasty commute. Gratitude is gratitude, right? And no matter what they are, finding things to keep yourself gratefu l will help you keep your chin up while you continue your job search.Click on the following link for more job-search advice.This holiday season, let TopResume give you the gift of a free resume critiqueRecommended Reading12 Holiday Gift Ideas for Job SeekersWhy the Holidays May Be the Best Time of Year to Look for a JobHow to Advance Your Job Search During the HolidaysRelated Articles