Getting references right
A late stage formality that occasionally decides things, and a courtesy people skip.
References are usually confirmatory, and occasionally the reason an offer does not arrive. Either way they are cheap to get right.
Ask before you list
Never give a name without asking first. A referee caught unprepared gives a lukewarm answer even when they think highly of you, simply because they are recalling under pressure.
Brief them properly
Send the job description, a line on why you want it, and a reminder of two or three things you worked on together. You are not scripting them. You are giving them the material to be specific, and specific is what makes a reference persuasive.
Choose for relevance
A direct manager who saw your work beats a senior name who did not. If you are changing field, pick someone who can speak to how you learn rather than to the old domain.
If a reference is a problem
If you left a role badly, say so before the check rather than hoping. Most employers understand a difficult manager or a bad fit. Very few forgive a surprise.
Afterwards
Tell your referees what happened. They spent their time on you, and the ones who hear the outcome will do it again next time.
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