Proper care and feeding of your references - Sterling Career Concepts

Proper care and feeding of your references Proper care and feeding of your references This past week was International Update Your References Week sponsored by Career Directors International (CDI).Professional references can be easilyoverlooked and not keptcurrent so this is a great reminder toreview your list (mental or printed) of your professional references. If you havent secured one from your most recent position, this is a great time todo so. Threemore thoughts on the matter: LinkedIn is a great tool for keeping current with your references. If you havent already, ask your references to post a testimonial to your LinkedIn profile. Your status line on LinkedIn is also a great way to keep your existingreferences up to date with your current projects and areas of focus. If youre activelyjob searching, send a copy of your current resume to each of your professional references with a note detailing your targetposition and that you appreciate their willingness to serve as a reference. This keeps you in the forefront of their mind, brings them up to date on your background,provides perspective for any potential inquiries by sharing target specs, and facilitates a value-added and relevant reference call. Think outside of the box. Do not limit your thoughts toformer bosses. References can be colleagues just as easily as they can be managers. Colleagues who worked side by side with you or who were in the trenches with you can sometimes have much more detailed, hands-on knowledge of your strengths and abilities. Lastly, take a look atCDIs page here for expertanswers to 12 of the most commonly asked questions aboutprofessional references. Proper care and feeding of your references Proper care and feeding of your references This past week was International Update Your References Week sponsored by Career Directors International (CDI).Professional references can be easilyoverlooked and not keptcurrent so this is a great reminder toreview your list (mental or printed) of your professional references. If you havent secured one from your most recent position, this is a great time todo so. Threemore thoughts on the matter: LinkedIn is a great tool for keeping current with your references. If you havent already, ask your references to post a testimonial to your LinkedIn profile. Your status line on LinkedIn is also a great way to keep your existingreferences up to date with your current projects and areas of focus. If youre activelyjob searching, send a copy of your current resume to each of your professional references with a note detailing your targetposition and that you appreciate their willingness to serve as a reference. This keeps you in the forefront of their mind, brings them up to date on your background,provides perspective for any potential inquiries by sharing target specs, and facilitates a value-added and relevant reference call. Think outside of the box. Do not limit your thoughts toformer bosses. References can be colleagues just as easily as they can be managers. Colleagues who worked side by side with you or who were in the trenches with you can sometimes have much more detailed, hands-on knowledge of your strengths and abilities. Lastly, take a look atCDIs page here for expertanswers to 12 of the most commonly asked questions aboutprofessional references.