The Motivated College Graduate: A Job Search Book for Recent College Graduates

References could play an important role in your job search as a recent college graduate. Since you likely do not have much direct work experience, employers use references to learn more about you as a person (for cultural fit), as well as a potential employee, from someone who has interacted with you. They can have a significant influence on the hiring decision since they appeal to the persuasion principles of social proof. Put into a business context, references are your client testimonials.

Get your references lined up early in your job search. You don’t want to be asked for references, have none, then need to scramble to get some. Ask for references while your relationship is current and their thoughts and opinions of you are fresh.

Generally, you want to offer two types of references: academic and work (internship) related.

What the Coaches Say:

What insight and advice would you offer graduates when it comes to references?

Create your “Circle of Champions” – a group of people who will support you by serving as your reference. Control their narrative about you by remaining in touch to share your career goals, resume, and the status of your job hunt with them.

Active management of your references can help or hurt a career. CareerBuilder reported 80% of the time references are checked by employers, and of those times, 29% found misleading/false references on resumes, 62% heard unflattering comments, and 69% of employers changed their mind after the reference check.

Dr. Cheryl Minnick, NCRW, CCMC, CHJMC, CAA

Your references are an important part of your job search strategy. Select references who think highly of you personally and can vouch for your ability to get things done, your integrity, how you will fit into a team environment, and how well you can work on your own.

People are honored when you ask them to be a reference, but may not know what to write or say. Give them some help. Tell them the name of the company and the job position for which you are interviewing, share a copy of your resume, and tell them why you are qualified for the job. Let them know when you are going to an interview, so they can be prepared for a call.

Don’t forget to thank your references, and let them know when you get a job.

Lorraine Beaman, MA, CEIC, ACRW, CARW, NCRW, MCD

This technique, if properly used, can be extremely persuasive. It can be used any time during the interviewing process but can be most persuasive when a final hiring decision is about to be made. Here is how it works:

Ask one of your references to call the hiring executive, unannounced (it must be a phone call, not an email). The purpose is to speak with the hiring executive and provide persuasive information about you and your fit for the job (attempting to capitalize on the persuasion principle of social proof).

Imagine the scenario: The hiring executive is at his desk. Hiring for that entry-level position is on his mind. His receptionist pages him and says there is a person on the line who would like to speak with him about you. That’s curious. If he has a moment, he will take the call. Then, out of the blue comes this glowing recommendation. Calls like this do not happen every day. That call and the contents of the conversation will linger in the mind of the hiring executive and differentiate you, which is the desired effect. You may or may not get the job, but you can feel good that you gave one last shot at persuading the hiring executive in your favor.

References can play a vital role in getting a job, especially if the decision to hire comes down to two or three candidates. The recommendation from a solid reference can move the decision in your favor.