Before they hire you, most employers will ask for references of people you have worked for in the past. They especially would like to know about former supervisors, department heads or company owners. The more prestigious the titles of the people you give as references, the more impressed a potential employer will be.
Some of you may have trouble coming up with people to give you good references. Maybe you just got out of high school and haven’t worked anywhere, or maybe you just worked part-time and your supervisor was someone about your age who barely knew more about the job than you. Perhaps you’re a parent busy raising a family and just getting back into the job market.
Or, and this is the most problematic, maybe you burned bridges and left a previous job on bad terms with your boss(es). Lesson number one is never burn any bridges. Even if you are unhappy in a job and think you’re treated unfairly, it’s not smart to quit in a huff. “Take this job and shove it” makes for a great country music song, but it’s not an attitude likely to advance your career.
In any case, unless you’ve lived as a hermit in a cave, almost everyone can submit the names of some good refernences. Somewhere along the way you may have impressed coaches, teachers, counselors, pastors, co-workers or even a next-door neighbor whose lawn you cut or snow you shoveled. Think of all the people you’ve befriended and what they might say about you that’s positive. (You can list friends or family members as references, though I doubt many employers will be impressed if they sing your praises. It’s better to have references who are not up close and personal with you.)
After you are in a job, think ahead about new job opportunities. It pays in the long run to establish strong bonds with the people you work with and for. Try to get to know as many people as possible at your workplace, even if they work in different areas and don’t interact with you regularly. Be helpful and considerate to them. Stay in touch with people you’ve befriended even after you leave their company.
An old saying about career advancement is, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know that counts.” At one level that’s a cynical statement. Of course it’s important for you to do a job well. But the truth of the matter is that when presented with two potential employees of similar skills, employers will almost always select the person they like better, or who comes recommended by someone they know and trust. What you know is important, but so is who you know.
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