A lot of candidates ask this. We target Engineers and Architects who are gainfully employed. Once we get to know them, we ask to do our due diligence by asking for a furnished list of professional references. Simple answer to the above question would be this: any individual who has observed you in a professional capacity, and is willing to serve as an employment reference (with, hopefully, positive things to say about you), could be used as a reference. Providing a list of references may not necessarily restrict a potential employer from contacting your previous employers, but the process does serve as a great starting point for building your credibility through individuals hand-picked by you.
So, how to go about choosing resume references? A sample list of such individuals could include:
- Supervisors/bosses at previous or existing jobs.
- Colleagues, peers, or subordinates.
- Clients, vendors, accounts, partners, etc.
- Academic references, mentor, such as professors and guides.
- Professionals from industry associations and volunteer work.
- Project team members.
- Mentors, coaches, or advisors
You get the point, don’t you? Generally, these references may be asked questions about your work ethic, professionalism, skills, education, qualifications, etc. References who would say positive things about you can significantly boost your chances of success.
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