Job Hunt: Choosing Good References

As the old adage goes, "It's who you know." When it comes to looking for a job, knowing someone with an inside track certainly can help.

It can also hurt. 

The whole truth also involves the kind of person your insider is. Whatever the job is you are seeking, be sure to pick references carefully.

Having a known, trustworthy reference is very important in some professions. Engineering, for example, is one such industry, according to Senior Vice President Greg Mounts at Shorewood's Hutchinson Engineering. 

He said they get about a dozen résumés a month. However, the field is small enough that they know many of the applicants already. For applicants they don't know, Mounts explained, they look for people whose references they trust.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your references:

• Pick people who are well-respected. Look for people who are honorable and ethical. Have they been in their job or their field for a long time? Do not choose people who have been unemployed or terminated multiple times. If you know a person to be cheating or gossipy in his or her personal life, chances are their bosses view them the same way at work.
• Ask for help. Don't be afraid to reach out to the reference. First, ask them if they are willing to be a reference. Second, if they know your potential employer, ask them to reach out. Perhaps they would be willing to make a call, or personally email your résumé on your behalf.
• List references on your résumé . This works if and only if your references are top quality and relevant. If your potential employer would recognize at least one name, be sure to use that to your advantage.
• Never choose relatives. Always pick people who have no personal allegiance to you. Former employers, people you volunteer with, and other colleagues are all great choices. If you have an in-law or another relative who can be an insider for you, ask them to make a call on your behalf instead of putting their name as a reference.
• It is OK to tell a story. If you have great references, but their names may not be recognizable to your potential employer, explain who they are. First list their name, their title and the company. Then create a separate paragraph, perhaps in italics, that says how you know them. "Although John Doe was not my boss per sé, he is a very-well respected mind company-wide. I worked closely with him on numerous projects. He can speak to my work ethic, responsibilities and capabilities." This is especially helpful if you moved and your references are out of state.

• Make it easy to contact your references. When asking your references if you can use their names, also ask if you can list work, home and cell numbers. It is OK to give just one number if your person is easily reached at it. Also give email, and if relevant, the name of their assistant. The last thing you want is for your future employer to discard your résumé because they can't reach your references.