References are those who know enough about applicants to describe their work life, skill, character trait, and habits. They can be friends, coworkers, supervisors, or college lecturers. Having references in a resume is important because they will give applicants more credibility, which will improve their chances of getting the position they are applying for. This article will guide you in choosing the right people for a job reference.

Work- Related References

Co-workers are a perfect option to testify to your professional skills. Having directly worked with you, they generally have an excellent idea of your professional behaviors and skills, making them very good references.  In addition to normal co-workers, work-related references can be your supervisor, employer, or event clients. These people are the most credible references you can have on your resume regarding your work ethic and professional skills, which are always extremely valuable in convincing recruiters. However, not all colleagues are good references; it is better to exclude those you have not interacted with in more than 3 years since they most likely would not be able to provide an accurate description of your current skill level.

Character Reference

Character References are references written by those who know you personally in and outside of work. They will have to be close enough to you to testify to your good characteristics and traits, such as honesty, reliability, trustworthiness, and more. They can be your friends, people you have volunteered with, teachers, advisors, and more. Depending on the position you are applying for, your character can be the deciding factor in whether or not the recruiter will choose you, thus it is always important to have people who can testify to your good traits.

Academic References

As opposed to the recent popular belief that recruiters rarely care about academic records, they are still extremely valuable, and an academic reference is the best academic record you could have. These academic references can be your teachers, professors, lecturers, club presidents, or, better, the principal or dean themselves. Having a person in the educational profession vouch for you on your resume would most likely make them stand out to recruiters.

Consider The Length Of Relationship With References

It's always a good idea to check in with your references before you give their names to a potential employer. After all, you want to make sure that they remember you fondly and that they're going to give you a good reference. However, what if it's been a few years since you worked together? Is it still worth reaching out to? The answer is, it depends. Current references are the best, but asking someone you worked with more than five to seven years ago can be a real test of memory. If you're thinking of reaching out to someone who isn't current, let them know you're in a job search, and share your current resume and the companies/roles you're interested in. That way, they can have an idea of what to talk about when they're asked about you.

In conclusion, choosing a job reference will be beneficial for candidates to make their resumes look impressive. Following the guidelines above will help candidates determine which references to ask for when looking for a new job.

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