People change jobs and careers for many different reasons and sometimes they are so eager for the change that they just drop everything in their current role as soon as they have secured a new job. This is a mistake that can be very costly to your career even if you don’t see an immediate effect because it could come back to haunt you later in your career. That is why it is important that you continue to perform at your best, just as you have throughout your employment, and make sure you get a Positive Professional Reference that you rightfully deserve.
Here are a few reminders on just how important Professional References and Reference Letters are for your career:
- Your new employer will want to hear from your former employers and get firsthand information on how you were as an employee. There is no better way to find out how you performed, your personality at work, how well you get along and work with others, and other information that only those who have worked with you will know. Many companies take references very seriously and use the information collected as part of their decision-making process.
- Sometimes it doesn’t take a formal professional reference for people to get to know your work history. No matter what industry you work in, big or small, people move from company to company, and you just don’t know who may be connected to who. That is why it is important that you always give your 100% so that you will get that formal and informal positive reference in the workplace.
- Companies and professionals sign their names on a Reference Letter or a Letter of Recommendation as a sign of validation of your performance during your time with the company. They put their reputations are on the line because if a person that they vouch for turns out not to be what they said that person would be, their credibility will be damaged.
- Everyone who has been working for a few years or have worked for a few different companies should have some references to show for. If you do not have any references, whether it’s a letter or a former employer who can speak on your work performance, that is an indication on its very own. Companies will see it as a red flag as to why you are not able to get anyone to validate your experience and performance.
Now that you realize its importance, here are a few tips to ensure that you get a Positive recommendation and reference from your employer when it’s time for you to move on from the company:
- Be consistent all the way to the end until the very last second. As an employee, we have a responsibility to our employers until our last day of employment. If our attitude towards our work changes during our last days / weeks because we know we’ll be leaving the company, this will be the last impression you leave for people to remember you by. This may also ruin all positive impressions that anyone may previously had about you during your time working with them.
- Connections are hard to come by and you want to keep as many as possible. You never know who you may cross paths with you again in your career and what that relationship may look like. Always be professional to everyone because there could come a time when a positive reference from someone that you may know could further your career.
- It is important that you do your part no matter the circumstances and control what you can. Even if you’re put in a very tough situation, do you best because your efforts will be recognized, and people will see that you did not let a negative situation get the better of you. This shows character and professionalism.
- It is hard for anyone to give a positive reference and give specifics about you when you’re just like everyone else that they have worked with. Go the extra mile and stand out from the crowd so that when your name is brought up, people can very easily remember their experiences working with you and highlight the positives about you.
- Remember to ask for it. If you’ve done a good job and performed above expectations in your work, make sure you ask for a Recommendation / Reference Letter or ask your Manager / Supervisor if they could be a Professional Reference for you to speak about your work performance.
And these are just a few reasons to remind you the importance of having professional references and how to make sure you’ll be able to get one from an employer when you are ready to take the next step in your career.
If you are looking to make a career move, don’t wait any longer! Contact us today to speak with one of our Recruitment Specialists and let us help you find new opportunities for the next step in your career!