Choosing the best personal references for a job application helps you get the job you desire. Hiring managers place more weight on what others have to say as opposed to what you say. When you include references, it is essential that you make deliberate choices. You want to choose references who have firsthand knowledge about your skills and abilities.
As a job seeker you must start your reference search by speaking with past managers and supervisors. If you have experience in the field you are applying for, start with supervisors who managed you. Choosing managers in the same industry will allow your professional reference to provide specific feedback about your skills, which the hiring manager can use to make a better decision.
If you do not have any work experience you can still provide personal references. Your professors and internship managers are great personal references. They hold great positions within the community, making them credible and they have the ability to speak directly to the skills you have.
Even though direct supervisors and managers are a great source for professional references, if you have a rapport with executive managers use them to boost your job application. Provide them as a reference along with their position within the company, so that hiring managers can see that you are a well-rounded employee.
It is advisable that you avoid including friends and family members on your personal reference list. Friends and family members are not as credible as coworkers or managers who have worked with you on a regular basis. Furthermore, individuals in a personal relationship with you are not as forthcoming about deficiencies or weaknesses you possess because they want to see you get the job. Since hiring managers want complete information in order to make the best decision, they will not place much weight on references who have a personal relationship with you.
You must also avoid asking for personal references from individuals who are acquaintances. These people do not know you well enough to highlight your skills and abilities. With little information about you, references who are acquaintances may say something that is not accurate or contradicts information provided by you and other references. Since hiring managers are looking for consistency, so they can make a good decision, avoid listing acquaintances as personal references.
As a job seeker it is important that you think strategically when choosing your references. It is better for you to list past managers because they are more credible. Additionally, you must include references who you have an established relationship with, instead of acquaintances, since they may not have much information about you. When you choose the best personal references, you increase your chances at getting the job you desire.
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