Land the Tech Job You Love

Give Solid References

At some point before you get a job offer, you’ll probably be asked for a list of employment references. You don’t have to have a special format where it looks nice like a résumé. Emailing the hiring manager or HR department is probably all you need to do. Don’t be surprised by this important part of the job hunt. Your references could be the deciding factor in whether you land a job.

Typically, your references will get checked after you’ve had an interview or two and the hiring manager is ready to give you a job offer or is narrowing down candidates. Reference checks are very time-consuming in terms of calendar time, since the people involved may not be available for days, so they’ll be saved until last. There are two ...