What is a professional reference?

A professional reference is a person who can confirm your work experience, professional abilities, skills, accomplishments, education, and character. Professional references are very helpful when looking for a new job.

Companies check with a candidate's professional reference to determine if certain things listed on their resume are accurate. Professional references can give employers valuable insights into how a candidate will perform if hired. They also might elaborate on different qualities the candidate has, such as their personality and work ethic.

Employers utilize professional references to gauge if you are a good fit for their organization. When you are applying for a job where professional references are needed, it is critical to select a list of professionals that can speak to your talents, strengths, and qualities.

Here are some examples of good professional references:

• Former employers you've had

• Former managers or supervisors

• Former coworkers

• Other industry colleagues you've collaborated with or held professional relationships with

• Academic officials, such as teachers, instructors, professors, or advisors

Employers may also ask your professional references to answer different questions about you, some of these may be industry-related questions, while others may pertain to your personal character.

It is very important to pick professional references who know you well and know about your work experience that is relevant to this new role. You need to develop a short list of professional references that can endorse you during your job hunt and interviews.

Professional references should be references of the individuals you have worked for or with. They can be your manager, supervisor, employer, coworker, colleague, or even a subordinate.

These professionals are in the best position to speak on your work skills, such as organization, teamwork, punctuality, reliability, and other skills and qualities that employers look for in candidates.

References can also elaborate on any specific professional accomplishments you have gained while working for or with them. They may talk about your work on a specific project and detail how you were essential to its success.

You should always try to provide professional references that are relevant to the new position you are trying to obtain. This means ones that are in a similar industry or whose work is comparable in some way to this new role.

It is important to ask for permission before listing someone as a professional reference. Not only is this just polite and the right thing to do, but also if they accept, it gives them the opportunity to prepare a little bit in the event they are contacted.

Also, if you do not want your current employer to be aware of your job search, be sure not to list them as a professional reference.

You should also inform your professional references of the role you are applying for at a new company. This gives them a chance to understand the position and prepare for how to communicate about your previous role and your performance in it, and how this makes you a valuable candidate.

Give your professional references a copy of your resume, so they can also digest its information and be able to complement it nicely when contacted.