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Keywords: résumé, reference, capabilities, career advice, diversity, ethnicity, career, job search, job tips

Your résumé is stellar. You used your network wisely. You landed the interview for your dream job and you nailed it. So why didn't you get the offer? It may be that your references were an afterthought, rather than part of your plan.

In today's competitive market, you need to be as meticulous in choosing your references as you are in every other part of your career, says Tony Jenkins, vice president of cultural competence and diversity systems for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, No. 15 on The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity^® list. "Make it a part of your broader message in looking for opportunities either within the same company or moving from another organization. Build your references into your entire branding of yourself and what you want to achieve out of your career."

Choose "somebody that's going to know not only your level of skill and competency but can also speak to your ability to think on the fly, to be able to adjust to various circumstances and can speak about your skills and ability to learn," says Daniel Guerrero, client manager for INROADS South Central Region. "It really is a matter of relationship development and a level of understanding."

Here are seven tips on how to develop references that will enhance your brand and get you the job:

1.      Make sure your reference knows you and your work well enough to recommend you.

A well-known executive in your field can be an attractive addition to your reference list. But if that person can only talk about you in general terms, the reference could do you more harm than good. "You can certainly know of someone that has an enticing title or is influential," says Guerrero. "But if they don't have a clear understanding of you, the reference is more like name dropping."

A strong reference will be able to talk about the value you will bring to the job. "If I'm an employer and I'm going to get a reference from someone, I'm going to ask that individual about this person's ability to deliver results," says Jenkins. "People need to be very comfortable with reaching out to individuals that they have had working relationships with that have seen them deliver outstanding results or they have seen them or observe them accomplishing a great deal," even if that person is a peer rather than a boss.

2.      Make sure your reference list is tailored to the job you are pursuing.

References are not a "one-size-fits-all."

"There are some references, depending on your job search or what you're pursuing, that are going to be a better fit for a reference check," says Guerrero. "You'll want to pick and choose who you want on there so that it is relevant to the career field that you're pursuing and it will have some legitimacy to what you're trying to pursue as well."

Choose a reference who can demonstrate that you are a good fit for the job or the company. "It's good to realize that the person is going to be able to speak to your competencies but at the same time be able to reflect those in a means that's going to demonstrate your ability to work in a particular environment or work with a particular group of people," says Guerrero.

3.      Be specific and professional in your request for a reference.

The more information you give to a reference about the job or career path you are pursuing, the more specific your reference can be about you. If you are too general in your request, you may not get the results you want. Be specific about "what you are trying to achieve as an individual, be it your career goals, or 'I'm going to be looking at another opportunity with another organization,'" says Jenkins.

"Sometimes people [make the request] too informally and therefore may not take it as serious," states Jenkins. "I would rather someone call me and [say], 'In an effort to get an interview with this organization, I've always admired your feedback and your support in my career and would really like your support.' To me, that's a formal ask rather than just calling up or sending an e-mail saying 'Give me a reference.'"

4.      Make sure all information about your reference is current and correct.

Even worse then a blah reference is giving out the wrong title or the wrong number for a reference. Double check your work to make sure that there are no overlooked mistakes that could easily cost you the job. "Make sure that you get their correct contact information, which includes address, phone number, [and an] e-mail that they're willing to give to you," adds Guerrero.

Don't assume that the number or e-mail you have for a reference is the one that person wants you to use. A reference may not want a cell-phone number given out or may have concerns about being contacted at work.

"Confirm that that's going to be information that they will allow you to disclose to a potential employer," says Guerrero.

5.      Consider references other than previous employers.

While getting references from past employers may seem like the obvious route to take, references from professional organizations you belong to or volunteer work you've done can also make you stand out.

"If your résumé indicates that you have had a leadership role in a particular organization or that you're heavily involved in a particular organization, you're certainly going to want to include some type of reference on [your résumé] from that organization just to illustrate the level of network that you've established within that organization," advises Guerrero.

Make sure, however, that the reference can talk about your skills that make you right for the job.

"As far as groups you've made charitable contributions to, I'm not certain to how relevant that is going to be unless it's heavily reflective in your leadership roles or organizational participation on your résumé," says Guerrero.

6.      Keep your reference list up-to-date.

Don't assume your reference list from two years ago will work. Your last boss may have changed jobs or moved to a new state since you made that list. Worse, your reference may not remember enough about your work to talk about you specifically to your prospective employer.

"If somebody is reaching out to [a reference] you knew 15 years ago and they receive that phone call and don't remember you, that's going to be a poor reflection on you," explains Guerrero.

It's a good idea to update your reference list as often as you update your résumé. And make sure you contact your references before you give out their names each time you plan on using them. That way you'll be sure the person will be prepared for the call and ready to present you in the best light.

7.      Follow-up is a must!

Saying thank you and letting your reference know what happened is a good way to make sure that reference remains an important part of your network.

"That's one thing that I typically encourage my students to do," says Guerrero. "Once they've made the request [and] received the OK, at some point [take the] opportunity to follow up with that reference and just let them know, 'Hey, this is what happened, I appreciate your help.' Follow-up is always good."

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