While some people downplay the value of reference checking, most employers still check them. There are steps you can take to ensure your references work in your favour, not against you. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

Choose your references wisely

You should only provide work-related references: individuals who can attest to your work habits, interpersonal qualities, and skill levels. Personal references, such as friends or relatives, provide no value to the employer.

Make sure your references will say good things

While this may seem obvious, you cannot assume everyone will speak well of you. One way to find out is to ask them, “If Company X calls you, what will you say about me?”

Listen carefully and coach your references if necessary. I am not saying that you should put words in their mouths. But you might be able to craft how they will speak about you or refresh their memory about past accomplishments they may have forgotten.

Do not provide the names of references in advance

Unless the job posting states this specifically, you should not include the names of your references when applying for the job. You don’t want an employer contacting your references before you even know if you really want the job. Most employers will ask for them later if they’re interested in you.

Provide details about the job to your referees

Once the potential employer asks for references, you can assume they will be checking them. You should immediately contact your referees to tell them about the job you’ve applied for. Let them know about the company and the job responsibilities, and why the job appeals to you. Sending them a copy of the job posting helps.

Give them a list of possible questions they might be asked

Of course, there is no guarantee the employer will ask these questions but if you provide samples, your references will have time to think about how your experience aligns with this job. Remember, for the most part, the reference questions will be driven from the job description or advertisement (which is why you should send a copy of the posting) and in most cases are similar to the questions you were asked in the job interview.

One final thought

Some employers want to speak to your current employer as part of the reference checking process. This can be awkward, of course.

An effective way to handle this request is to tell the employer you are fine with this step but only after terms of employment have been finalized. Many offers are made “Subject to a satisfactory reference from your current employer.” Yes, there is still a small chance your employer will speak negatively about you and you lose the offer, but I have never seen this happen.