How do you prevent yourself from making the type of mistakes I just made in the headline? My advice is to not trust the computer and to keep it simple.
Don’t wait for corporate to make you do it. Ask the people who work for you to give you their honest opinions. Believe it or not, this often results in the best referrals.
Reference checks can confirm or deny the value of a job seeker to a potential employer. They can be the difference-maker in employment. When it comes to references, do sweat the small stuff.
Every job seeker knows that when applying for a new job, great references are almost as important as a stellar resume. It’s generally the first thing a hiring manager will ask for in an interview, so you’ll have to be prepared.
If references are not requested up front, you should only 'name names' when the hiring process has progressed past the first interview. Your references must be able to speak to the quality of your professional work. Personal references such as pastors, friends or neighbors are not suitable.