Career Advice

Former recruitment agency experts answer employment questions, candidly suggesting how to negotiate your salary, find a really good job, handle phone interviews, and more.

Sage advice like this is priceless.

Resumes get interviews while references secure job offers

Employers are likely to investigate your background and in fact the more senior level the position the more thoroughly your references will be checked.

Most people don't give their references much thought.

About half of all references that get checked range from mediocre to poor, so it is very possible that the great job you lost out on at the last moment had nothing to do with your skill level. It could have had more to do with what a reference or past employer said about you.

Increase Your Chances of a Good Reference:

Make sure records are correct. You will look bad if your former employer's HR department indicate a different job date or title than what you list on your resume. Data entry errors can happen so contact the HR department to ensure that their records are accurate.

Have an active & positive relationship with your references. Also make sure you have their most up-to-date contact information.