How To Choose The Best Referees When Writing Your CV

By Lilian Wamaitha
When writing your CV who do you choose as your referee?
How do you determine who goes into that’s section that could very well determine if you get a job or not?
Contrary to popular belief that employers rarely contact referees, the job market has changed and the need to perform a background check on candidates has therefore increased.
“Besides your qualifications, an employer can get to know you more through your referees,” says Muthoni Ndegwa, a recruitment manager at Corporate Staffing Services.

Who can be your referee then?

Work-related references are generally more potent than personal ones since they can attest to the way you operate and what you are capable of.
It’s best to choose someone who is senior to you, rather than a peer, but make sure the person you choose is someone you have worked closely with.
Choosing from your most recent place of work is ideal but it can be problematic if you don’t want your current employer to know you are looking for a new job.
Never choose family members, fiancé, friends of the family or a neighbor unless they know you professionally.
The best referees are people who know you well – that is, a person you worked most closely with at your last job or the lecturer you got along with for fresh graduates.
Obviously, it helps if you had a friendly working relationship with them too. You see at the end of the day, you want to choose someone who will write a good reference and be as positive about you as possible.

Things to consider when choosing referees

I have seen so many job seekers lose their dream jobs based on the reviews of their referees.
Before considering someone to act as a referee, consider these few tips.
1. Their availability and consent
Before listing someone as your referee, please consider that they are available and up to that.
You don’t want a case where an employer wants to run a background check and the person you provided cannot be reached or doesn’t want to talk.
It is always advised to always confirm this first and always be in contact.
2. Are you still working for them?
It is natural to consider your current employer as a referee when you are looking for a job.
However, your employer might not take it very well that you are considering another job.
If you are still working, consider referees outside your job who can speak highly about your performance.
Consider this >>> How To Write A CV: Tips For Kenyan Job Seekers
3. Your performance in your previous role
Before you consider putting down your former boss or supervisor as your referee, think through your previous performance in that role.
Will they be in a position to give positive feedback? What were the challenges you faced in that position and how did you handle them? What sort of feedback did you receive from your former boss?
When prompted to, this is the same information they will share about you with a recruiter.
So before you make a reference list, ensure that you former performance is not questionable.
4. The relationship you had with them
Think about the kind of relationship you had with your former supervisors?
Consider the supervisors you shared a positive rapport with rather than those you have possibly disagreed, conflicted with or angered in the past.
5. How long you worked with them
Unless you are a recent graduate, consider referees you have worked with for longer than three months. This is because, referees share what they know about you with a recruiter and you want someone who knows you really well.
You don’t want a referee who when called is trying hard to remember who you were because you were only there for two months.
The take away…
It is good etiquette to ask for people’s permission to act as your referee before giving their name to a potential employer.
This ensures that you are not in an awkward position when a referee in your CV does not even remember your existence.
Some people will act as referees for you for several years while others might only be suitable when you apply for a particular job.
Think about what each person can say about you and whether their knowledge of you is relevant to the particular job you’re applying for.
You must give your referees’ names and contact details at the bottom of your CV.
Write a thank you note or phone your referees to let them know the outcome of your job search. This is just common courtesy, but it will also mean they will be more likely to help you out again if need be.
Always remember that the review your referee gives about you will go a long way in determining whether or not you land that job. So make sure you carefully consider who to put down as a referee.
Lilian is a Communication Officer at Career Point Kenya. If you have any queries related to this email me through lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke or just leave a short comment below