Nowadays, most employers ask for you to provide them with at least three references. Most of us ask the same question, “Do they actually call and check those?” The answer is almost always YES, yes they do. Picking the right references and asking those people to be a reference can be a task in and of itself. On the employer side of things, checking those references can be daunting and time-consuming, but as we lay out below, neither has to be true.
How to Ask Someone to be Your Reference
Choose wisely
Choose people who will give you an exceptional reference, people you had positive experiences with. This does not mean they have to be former employers. It could be a client or vendor, a co-worker, or a professor. If you have limited business contacts, use a personal reference, someone who can speak strongly to your character, demeanor, and abilities.
Be careful how you ask
Don’t just ask “Will you be a reference for me?” Instead, ask something along the lines of “Do you feel comfortable providing me with a reference?” This gives the person the opportunity to decline if they feel they would not be able to give you an outstanding reference.
Give them all pertinent information
Make sure they know what kind of jobs you are applying for and what companies could be calling them. This gives them the opportunity to prepare their thoughts and speak to what the company will be most interested in.
Put your request in writing
Be sure to send an email with all of the information in it when you ask for them to be your reference. This gives them something in black and white to reference and allows them to answer truthfully. Be sure to include your name in the subject line so that the email gets opened and read.
Be Professional
When sending your email to ask for the request, be sure to sound professional. Check the email for spelling and grammatical errors, and if need be ask someone to edit for you. Remember you are asking for a professional reference, you need to be professional in the request.
Say Thank You
Be sure you say thank you in your email as well. You are asking them to take time out of their busy schedule to do you a favor and help you get a job. Be sure to thank them for everything!
EXAMPLE:
Dear Steve,
I hope everything is well on your end and that you’re enjoying a busy 3rd quarter. I wanted to touch base with you to ask for help in my job search. I am in the process of looking for a new position as my current position is being eliminated.
I would like to ask your permission to use you as a reference who can speak to my skills, qualifications, and abilities. I would always advise you when your name and contact information is given out this way you know who to expect a phone call from. I would also share what type of position it is, and what they are looking for.
I really appreciate your time and efforts in this and look forward to hearing from you soon. Also, if you know of any openings that I may be qualified for I would appreciate the help.
Thank you,
(signature)
For information on how to check references read this blog post.
