Most people treat references as a formality — a name and a number handed over at the finish line. The candidates who get the offer treat them as the closing argument.
Choose for relevance, not seniority
The best reference isn’t the most important person you’ve worked with — it’s the one who can speak specifically about the work this job needs. A peer who saw you up close often beats a distant VP.
Brief them
- Tell them about the role and what it emphasizes.
- Remind them of one or two wins worth mentioning.
- Give them a heads-up before the call so they’re not cold.
A reference who has to think on the spot is a reference who damns you with faint praise.
Marta Horáková, Resume Strategist
Thank them after, win or lose. You’ll need them again.