Collecting references is an important step when you’re looking to make a change in your career. Ideally, you want someone who will be willing and able to speak in detail about your work ethic, your practices and habits that make you a great team member and employee, and someone that a new manager will be happy to add to their team.
Sometimes the best person to use as a reference is a former supervisor, boss, or manager, but it might feel a little awkward to make that request, especially if you’re still working for them when applying for new jobs.
A good manager will want you to do what’s best for yourself and your career. They’ll be sad to see you go but will understand that wanting to make a change is just business, nothing personal.
There are a few ways to go about making this request, but first, make sure that this former employer is one who was happy with your performance, treated you with respect, and with whom you’ve had a good relationship. You don’t want any surprises!
Best Practices Asking Former Employers to be a Reference for Yourself
How to Make the Request
You can ask the person directly, verbally, if they’d be willing to speak on your behalf as a reference. Explain that you really respect them and their opinion and you enjoyed working with them and ask if they’d be comfortable talking to a prospective employer about your abilities. If asking directly feels weird, or if you don’t live in the same city as this former manager, send them an email with your request. It doesn’t need to be long; a simple, to-the-point note asking if they’d be willing to be a reference for you is enough.
Remind Them of Your Shared Success
If you worked with this person for a long time, remind them of the wins you’ve had together, whether it was finishing a big project ahead of a deadline or bringing in a new client that helped the company achieve a banner year of success. Maybe you helped implement a new organization or filing system, or you were responsible for expanding the company’s reach on social media. Whatever successes you had in the company that you’d highlight on your resume, use those same talking points when asking for a reference from a manager to help jog their memory about your abilities and talents.
Be Specific
Once they’ve agreed to be a reference, be clear and specific about what you need. Do they need to write a letter of recommendation? Will they be called and, if so, do you know who will be calling and when? Giving them time to prepare their comments and think about what they’d like to say will give them the best opportunity to reflect on your working relationship and formulate their comments to put you in the best light.
Be Respectful of Their Time
You’ve worked with this person, either currently or previously, so odds are you know very well how busy they are. Understand that if you’re asking for a written reference letter, it might take a little time for them to provide one. If a week has passed, a gentle reminder might be needed, but wait a few more days if things are particularly busy or stressful. If they’ll be receiving a call, let them know to the best of your ability when to expect it, along with information about the person who will be calling if you have it, including their title and position with respect to the one you’re applying for.
Show Gratitude
When someone agrees to be a reference for you, be sure to thank them for their help. If you still work together, offer to pick up a coffee or other treat for them as a gesture of gratitude for their time and willingness to assist you. If you don’t, be sure to send them a thank you card or email to show your appreciation. It’s a little gesture, but it means a lot to someone who has done you a favor, especially if it helped you land a new position. It’s also just good manners.
Find Your Next Opportunity with ABLE Today!
Having a former manager or boss speak on your behalf is a great way to help your application and candidacy stand out to a potential new boss. Who better to talk about the kind of employee you are and make you sound like an outstanding member of a team? Managers know what other managers are looking for and yours will know exactly what to say to help you move to the next level.
If you’re having trouble getting interviews or need to make a change quickly, consider working with a staffing company, like ABLE Associates! We can help you shine up your resume, incorporating all those successes and innovations you’ve implemented in your work experience, and we can help you find a job that will utilize your skills while providing opportunities to grow in the future. Take a look at our open positions, then give ABLE Associates a call!