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• Keep them professional. We’re sure your mother loves you; we don’t need to call her and confirm.

• Give a variety. Ideally, we want one manager, one coworker, and then one other, whether it be a client, someone who managed, or a business colleague. We also like when they’re from different stages of your life - someone you recently met, someone you’ve known for a bit, and someone you’ve known for a while. People from different jobs (when possible) are even better.

• Ensure the information is accurate and current. An example: our President is Stephen Weed - not Steven Weed. One of our recruiters is Sara, not Sarah. Misspelling or typos could have us contact the wrong person. It’s not only not beneficial to you, but it shows a lack of attention to detail. Besides, how well could they know you if you didn’t know that phone number was invalid three years ago?

• Let them know we’ll be calling. It’s really awkward to call someone and have them say, “Mary? Do I know a Mary?” It doesn’t hurt to give them a reminder of that major project you worked on together, or the first time you met when you amazed them with your natural ability. Additionally, with caller ID, they may not even answer if they don’t recognize our phone number or expect the call.

• Ask them to keep your conversation confidential, especially if you are currently employed and don’t want them to find out. While we pride ourselves on confidentiality and won’t divulge anything to your references except that they were provided as one, we cannot vouch for your references. In a small industry like ours, word can spread quickly.

Once we have received your references, we’ll begin calling as soon as possible. Make sure the information you provide is accurate, and we will take care of the rest. While you wait, head over to our website for tips on your upcoming interviews.