Most people don't talk to their references in advance before connecting them with a prospective employer. We recommend doing a short call with each reference so they're prepped with thoughtful answers to the following questions:

🤝 How long have you known CANDIDATE, and in what context?
🎢 How does CANDIDATE handle challenges? Any examples?
🚀 Can you describe CANDIDATE's work ethic and determination?
💫 Examples of projects CANDIDATE excelled at while working together
💪🏼 What are CANDIDATES' unique strengths & areas of expertise?
🧩 Is CANDIDATES a good fit for this specific position? If so, why?
🚪 Why did CANDIDATES leave X company? Were there good reasons?
❤️ What kind of environment will CANDIDATES be most successful in & why?
💡 Tips to the employer for supporting CANDIDATES as her new manager
⚖️ How would you rank CANDIDATES to work with on a scale of 1-10 and why?

Let us know if there are others we missed!