• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 450 0

’s a workaholic. She’s canceled our Saturday morning tennis game on several occasions because she wanted to work on her projects while the office was quiet. Completing her work has consistently been her top priority. She’s very dedicated.

Always end the script about a liability or weakness by turning it into an attribute or strength.

Arrange for enough time to explain your objectives and show your references how they’ll help you achieve them. Meet personally over a quiet lunch or dinner (your treat) and let them know how important this is to you. Give them your carefully prepared information, and review it in detail.

Resist the temptation to give in when a personal reference says: “Hey, I don’t need your resume or any of this paperwork. Don’t worry.” Worry for an instant. Then explain that it’s important to give them facts rather than just opinions (spins on facts) and conclusions (clusters of facts).

Debriefing Personal References

Ask your references to accept telephone calls or to return them immediately. Of course, you’ll offer to pay any toll charges. Have them notify you of the details the moment they hang up. You need the feedback now so you can instantly impress in your next interview.

Using Personal References for Job Leads

Once references get involved with you, they feel as though they have a vested interest in your success.

Your background information can get this reference to see you in a new light. Previously a friend or acquaintance, now you are a professional with credentials. The reference may have contacts that can work in your favor to secure additional job leads.

You don’t want to push your personal references too far, since they’re doing you the great service of speaking on your behalf.

If you can work your way around to the subject, however, or if they say, “You know, after looking at your resume, I’ve got a friend you should talk to,” then by all means follow up.

This is how personal references are turned into career cash.

That’s your first huge do-posit slip!

Now we’ll write the next one . . .

Do 64: Banking Professional References Instantly

Here’s your other huge do-posit slip!

Because references properly selected and prepared are like money in the bank.

Now let’s write this slip.

Selecting the Right Professional References

Stay away from using current supervisors.

Review your career history and current business contacts for the names of the most potent references.

Consider:

• Former supervisors at past employers

• Your boss’s boss and other high-level executives at past employers who know your contributions

• Coworkers at present or past employers who also know your contributions

• Subordinates who can verify your management ability

• Colleagues who served with you on committees or task forces

• Members of trade associations or professional groups who like you

• Managers of support departments who assisted with your projects (finance, management information systems, communications, sales, marketing, market research, purchasing, or inventory control)

• Members of consulting firms and other vendors who worked with you

After you’ve assembled a comprehensive list, pick up the phone, smile, and begin calling them. Cross off all the people who greet you with “Bob who?” Cut the call short if the person sounds unenthused. You want at least five professional references who are glad to hear from you, and whose words and word skills will help you land that job.

Your reference must mention attributes that get you hired. Say a job requires the ability to supervise. You roll out the five references who can attest to your managerial skills. Another job might require analytical skills. Contact the staff accountant from your last job. Call the professor who gave you an A.

Think ahead to all the possible attributes you need, and keep a list of references to backstop them.

This is how it goes:

You: Tom, good to hear your voice again. It’s Karen Condito. Did you get the article I sent you last month on semiconductor