5 Things To Consider Before Choosing Your Referees
By Kennedy Omondi
It is a normal routine for a company to carry out formal reference checks at different levels of recruitment.
“The main aim of the exercise is to verify and understand an applicant’s suitability for a position, “ says Justus Ngetich, an Account Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services
How To Choose Referees
Most job seekers tend to lose their dream job based on the reviews of their referees.
Before considering someone to act as a referee, these are some of the issues you must look into:
1. Availability and Consent of the referees
Confirm their availability before listing them as possible referees. This does not mean physical locations, but availability to give feedback when needed to. It is always advised to always confirm this first and always be in contact.
2. Are you still in the Job with your referee?
When you are looking to change jobs, the choice of putting down your employer as a potential referee always comes up.
It might not be taken well with your employer if he realizes you are planning to leave. Here, you need to consider providing referees outside of your organization who can speak to the quality of your job performance.
3. Your Performance in your previous role
It is important that before you consider putting down a referee, think through your previous performance in that role.
Will the referee provide positive feedback in regards to your performance? What were some of the challenges that you faced in this position and how did you go about it? What sort of feedback did you get from the manager at the time?
These are some of the information they will be sharing with the recruiter, so make sure it is positive!
4. The Relationship You Had With Previous Employers
Look back at the relationship you had with your previous supervisors. Consider those supervisors with whom you shared a positive rapport rather than those you have possibly disagreed or conflicted with.
5. The Work Duration
How long did they know you or how closely did they work with you? Do consider referees in jobs that you have worked relatively longer in. These should be recent positions rather than positions you worked in over 5 years ago.
Keep it in mind that the review your referee gives about you will go a long way in determining weather or not you land that job.
So make sure you carefully consider who to put down as a referee.
