Page 129 - Oscar Adler - Sell Yourself in Any Interview_ Use Proven Sales Techniques to Land Your Dream Job (2008)

GETTING AND MAXIMIZING REFERENCES AND REFERRALS

you have an inside track. Be professional in following up on
any referrals; you want to make your contact look good. To
maintain a strong working relationship with an obliging con-
tact, be sure to send thank-you notes for anything he does
to help you along the way.
Once you have moved on to a new position, drop an occa-
sional e-mail to the important people you know within your
field to keep them apprised of your career changes. As
always, be sure to thank them for any help they have pro-
vided, and offer to be of help to them in any way you can.
And remember that networking goes both ways. Keep your
ears open for opportunities that may benefit one of your
contacts. You will be remembered in kind.

REFERENCES—ASK FIRST

At the end of most résumés, you see the phrase “References
available on request.” What is the benefit of that? Don’t wait
for a request. Have your references lined up and ready to go
before you send out your first résumé.
A reference is someone who is willing to supply a spoken
or written recommendation of you and your work. You must
always ask people if they are willing to serve as reference. Do
not assume that someone will provide you with a good ref-
erence unless you have consulted with him or her first.
Think about the people in your past who might serve as pos-
itive references. Contact them, and let them know about
your job search. Ask if they are willing to serve as a reference
and how they would prefer to be contacted (e.g., telephone,
e-mail, etc.). Next, ask if they would be willing to write a
letter of reference for you to have on file. This can be an

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