How to Find a Professional Reference That Will Land You the Job

Mentors make a perfect professional reference, whether you’re currently working with them or have in the past. A mentor has seen you grow in your career, allowing them to speak to your ability to learn and develop as an employee — an important characteristic.

Having a mentor also shows that you’re serious about your career because you’ve active sought coaching for yourself. “Mentors guide and counsel you, and understand how you respond to coaching. My mentor references help validate my preparedness to take effective action in the roles that I compete for,” says Lex R. Brown II, contributor for Task and Purpose.

A former boss is likely the first person you think of when looking for references. This person can share about your ability to be part of a team, meet deadlines, and provide insights and ideas. However, remember that your boss isn’t always the best reference. According to The Muse, there are four reasons why you shouldn’t ask a previous boss to be a reference:

• Your boss didn’t really manage you.
• They’ve been impossible to get a hold of (remember: you need to get permission first).
• You barely overlapped or worked with your boss.
• You didn’t get along with one another.

A friend from the office can speak to your ability to connect with fellow employees, which is critical for maintaining great work culture, something many employers are concerned with. In fact, 84 percent of recruiters say that cultural fit is one of the most important factors when hiring.

Use this as an opportunity to highlight how involved you are socially, and what personality traits you bring to the company as a co-worker and part of the community. This will bring another dynamic to who you are as an employee, allowing you to paint a well-rounded picture of yourself as a great candidate for the job.

Someone who worked side-by-side with you on a project can be a great professional reference. Not only can they speak to your ability to work as a team, but they can reference other important characteristics, like your ability to communicate or overcome obstacles in high-pressure situations. When asking this person to be your reference, request that they discuss the project you worked on and highlight the areas where you provided the most value as a co-worker and employee.

A professor or adviser can touch on the passion that led you to pursue your line of work in the first place. Demonstrating that your ambitions started as a university student can help show a potential employer that you’re dedicated to what you do.

A professor or adviser can be especially helpful when starting your career. “Human resources staff and hiring managers receive [CVs] and applications from soon-to-be and recent graduates all the time. And, although they will understand your limited experience, they won’t excuse you from the requirement of having great references,” according to Bryant & Stratton College.

Hand-pick your references to show why you’re the best candidate for the position. Keep these people in mind to paint a picture of who you are as a person and an employee — the right people will highlight all your greatest accomplishments and skills so you can land the job.

5 References That Should Be On Your List To Land The Job

3 Ways To Say ‘No’ When Asked To Be A Reference

What Employers Look For In Candidates

50 Most Common Interview Questions

5 Keys to Preparing for a Competency-Based Interview

8 Ways To Be The Best Possible Candidate At Interview

5 Positive Affirmations To Help You Smash That Job Interview

Four Types of Tests You Might Face During the Interview Process

11 Perfect Questions to Ask at an Interview

When You Have Competition From Other Candidates, Here’s What To Do