

It ensures they are not taken by surprise and can prepare in advance. You should contact your references in advance and ask for their permission. But above all else, the quality of your reference overrides anything else. Impressive titles like CEO, COO, or director will certainly go a long way to impressing a new employer. However, if you are able to choose someone higher up the chain that you also worked closely with, then of course you should go with them. The title of that person within the company is not as important as the reference they give. They will be better equipped to give a more accurate reference, and also a positive one. Having a good relationship with your reference will make the world of difference. The best way to choose a reference is to consider someone who you know very well. Would you like to read the ultimate guide to help you decide who to choose? If so, please read – Choosing the right CV references. If this person gave you monthly or quarterly appraisals, they are in a great position to provide an accurate reference. Your direct line manager or supervisor is always the safest choice. Is the CEO providing a vague reference because they thought you performed poorly? This is exactly what the employer will think, so choose someone better. It might look impressive on your CV choosing the CEO of the company, but your performance review won’t be. Vague and generic reviews and references do not go down so well. This could cause the employer to become suspicious, and assume that something could be wrong. If you choose someone that you didn’t work closely with, you are going to end up with a generic reference. This should be a manager or supervisor who can give an accurate reference as opposed to a generic one. It’s important to choose someone who you have worked closely with. We want to help you get the most out of your references, so here’s our guide on why and who you should pick… Don’t aim too high Choosing the very best references requires a lot more patience and thought if you want to really impress your future boss. Whilst it may be tempting to simply list a few previous managers, there is another approach which may be far more beneficial. From the job seekers perspective choosing the right references should be quite simple, right? A reference is often used by an employer as a final check, typically after the interview stage.
