References are used by most tech companies to reduce the risk of a bad hire and avoid legal issues related to negligent hiring. In many cases, references are just used as a final check to confirm the positive impression gained from interviews and resumes. But a good reference checker is probably trying to uncover red flags (things that end your candidacy, like inconsistent work quality, poor time management, blaming others for failures, etc) and yellow flags (things that may or may not end your candidacy but provide important context, like an inability to accept feedback, general lack of initiative, a history of conflicts on teams, etc).

Your goal during the reference stage should be to quickly connect the employer to prepped, relevant references within 24 hours of when they ask. Here are our tips to make that possible:

Reference Checklist

• Identify Potential References: Make a list of former managers and peers who can speak positively about your work, and make sure you have a way to contact them. Don't wait until the last minute to ask for a reference; give them a bit of heads up (ideally as you start reaching the onsite stage) so you can prep them in advance.

  • Managers: Including a manager can provide a more holistic view of your performance, particularly regarding management and teamwork skills. However, it's understood that if the current managers are not included due to confidentiality concerns. Ideally, you’ll include 1-2 of these in the list unless you have none.

  • Senior Colleagues: It’s acceptable to use senior peers, team leads, or skip levels as references. They can provide valuable insights into your skills, contributions, and daily work even if they weren’t your direct manager.

  • Former Peers: If you have a limited network, consider reaching out to past colleagues who you worked well with. Even if you haven't worked with them recently, a good relationship and a brief update on your current skills and experiences can lead to a strong reference

• Reach Out: Contact via email or LinkedIn, briefly explaining why you’re reaching out. Ask if they would be comfortable serving as a reference, and thank them in advance for considering your request. Don't convince someone to be a reference if they seem hesitant or uncomfortable

  • Example: "Hi [Reference’s Name], I hope you're well! I'm in the final stages of a [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and would love to list you as a reference. Would you be comfortable doing this? I can send you more details if needed, and/ or hop on a quick call to give you an overview. Thank you so much!"

    
    

• Prep Your References: Send your updated resume to your references to refresh their memory of your qualifications and experience. Also, share the job description and highlight key responsibilities and skills required for the role. Suggest specific projects, skills, or achievements you’d like them to mention, and ask if they need any more information or context to provide a strong reference. Examples of Prep:
  ⏹️🤝 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?
  
  

• Confirm Contact Details: Make sure you have their preferred contact details (phone number, email) and verify the best time for them to be contacted.

• Close The Loop: Send a thank-you note or email expressing your gratitude for their support. Also ideally let your references know the outcome of your job application, whether you got the job or not.

  
  Let us know if there are others we missed!