Question: “Hey Kevin, I listened to your recent call regarding using references, and I had a question. During my current period of unemployment, I had a 6 month contract position that went really well. I’ve tried to reach the two guys I worked for to see if they would be ok with me using them as professional references (I’ve left a couple of voicemails and emails for each). Considering that the interview I have coming up is for the same kind of work, having them as references would help. Do you think it would still be ok to list them as references even though I haven’t heard back from them?” – Tom
Tom,
The only thing better than having the exact experience (and results to back it up) that a company is seeking is to have references that will validate that you are the real deal. That is why I would have to tell you “no” right now, given what you have described.
It’s not safe to assume that just because you did good work that your references are going to reinforce Your Solution and the value you will bring as a new member of the team. Beyond that, if these guys aren’t calling or emailing you back, there is no reason to believe they will return calls as references from total strangers.
Frankly, I don’t know what would reflect worse – them not giving you a ringing endorsement or them not returning the call of the person checking your reference. It’s way too big a gamble to “hope” that “if” they call back they will say what you need them to say. As a Colonel of mine used to say, “Hope is not a method.” You’ve worked entirely too hard to get the interview to have someone else scuttle it for you.
If you haven’t already done so, check out this blog of mine on managing references to help you close the deal.
Best,
