If someone is checking on your references, it’s a good sign you’ve come a long way in the interview process and you’re being given serious consideration for the position you’ve always dreamed of (or at least will help you continue to make those car payments)

It’s important however that you choose your references carefully as their word and manner in which they are associated to you can alternately hurt or harm your chances.

First, the most obvious choice is people who will speak highly of you. Make sure you’re in good standing with the people you’ve tapped to put in a good word for you when your potential employer comes calling. Because of possible legal backlash, most professional adults will not outright badmouth a former employee but then, why would you want someone getting mediocre feedback about you? Go for people you have made good and lasting impressions on.

Second, know if someone is going to be contacted for a character or employment reference. You should save long time friends, friends of the family and family members for character references (which are more for gauging your moral quality as an individual) versus former supervisors, managers and co-workers for employment references who will provide someone with an idea of your moral character in addition to verifying your work performance, abilities, skill sets and other related information.

Third, make sure you and your references have all your information straight before they are contacted. Avoid the embarrassment of having to explain to the company you’re applying with why you said one thing but your reference said another. Take some time and contact a former employer, verify the information they have on file and make sure it matches what you’ve put down on your job application.  By ensuring this type of consistency, you strengthen your credibility immensely in the eyes of a potential employer. You’re someone whose word can be trusted.

Fourth, always make sure the reference you’re giving can be tied to the position you’re applying to. You wouldn’t use your summer job at the local burger joint as an employment reference for the design studio in downtown would you? Look for employment and personal references that have some sort of tie to the field you’re interested in. Even if you don’t have them then you can always emphasis and play up elements of past positions that can be tied to the one you’re applying for now. For example, maybe you redesigned a menu on your computer for your boss at the burger joint. 

Once all is said and done, take a moment to leave a voicemail, send an email or mail a thank you note to the people who gave you references. These people have stepped up to the plate and given someone the green light to hire you.  That’s a pretty big thing to do for someone and by acknowledging the act, you dole out some good old fashion common courtesy as well as ensuring you can use them again in the future if need be.