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• Your rest-you-may (Do 5)

• The reference summary

• The personal reference questions

The Reference Summary

For personal references, this summary is simply a one-page list describing your attributes and activities that (1) the reference can authenticate and (2) are relevant to your target job. Here’s the summary that Betty Bono gave to Harry, her personal reference.

Name: Betty R. Bono

Phone No.: 555-555-5555

Fax: 555-555-5555

E-mail: bettybono@gotmail.com

Position Desired: Accountant for an Insurance Company

Attributes:

• Determination

• Accuracy

• Thoroughness

• Commitment

• Follow-through

• Energy

• Enthusiasm

• Competence

• Positive Attitude

Job-Related Skills:

• Compiled financial data and developed complete, accurate forecasts

• Presented concise, understandable financial reports for budget projections

• Demonstrated knowledge of accounting principles and procedures

You should prepare a similar summary to give to each of your references. Be sure your references understand and agree with its contents. Don’t be shy about your attributes. Your references would rather have correct information on what to say than risk messing up.

As you review the summary for each reference, make sure that he understands:

• Your job search objectives

• Specifically what you want him or her to say in a reference call

• The proper tone of voice for maximum impact

If you’re targeting more than one job, the reference should be given two or more summaries. Each should be clearly marked so your reference knows what to say to whom.

It’s important that each reference have a slightly different summary, even though it means more work for you. Otherwise, they may all come out sounding exactly the same about you.

Canned responses won’t get you the job; you need each reference to answer with the appearance of spontaneity, candor, and enthusiasm.

The Personal Reference Questions

Your personal references should be given a list of probable questions. Each should get two copies—one with suggested answers written by you, the other blank to let your references mesh your preferred answers with their own personal versions.

The answers should help refresh your references’ recollections about the dates and details of your relationship and to make sure that what you say is verified by what they say.

Personal Reference Questionnaire

How long have you known_____________________________ ?

How do you know___________________________________ ?

What is your opinion of _______________________________?

Does (he/she) get along well with others?

________________________________________________

Is (he/she) usually on time?

________________________________________________

Is (he/she) absent from work very often?

________________________________________________

Does (he/she) bring work home very often?

________________________________________________

Does (he/she) like (his/her) job?

________________________________________________

What are (his/her) primary attributes?

________________________________________________

What are (his/her) primary liabilities?

_______________________________________________

Offer Assistance to Personal References

What is said to the reference checker is too important to be left unsaid by you. Even well-meaning references can reply inappropriately when they’re unprepared.

You can help them handle the questions equally well. Let’s take that last question about liabilities. Here are a few answers that can transform liabilities into assets.

Well, the one liability that comes to mind is that Betty considers herself last. She’s never too busy to help someone or volunteer for another position. She’s one of those people who proves the truth of the phrase “If you want it done, give it to a busy person.” It’s funny, though. Betty never seems to get ruffled about it all. She’s organized, efficient, and goal-oriented. It seems the more she does, the happier she is.

Betty’s liabilities? Oh, I guess you could say she