References - What are they good for?

• What are references good for?
  A reference gives you a chance to sell yourself.

• Who is a good or bad reference?
  You need to choose someone who is smart and articulate and who can "sell" the prospective employer on your good qualities.

• What questions are they asked?
  They will be asked the natural questions on honesty, reliability, and your capability with the job. And if you show initiative with the workplace.

• What is the best way to present your references?
  Take your reference list to the interview with you, and make sure that you have the correct name, address, title, and phone number for each person on it.

• What if the employer can't reach them?
  This, is why you must always take the right name, address and phone numbers. Try to bring at least two names. So, that this covers any such circumstances.

• Why is it bad to lie on a resume?
  Because people find out -- and then you look bad and untrustworthy.

• Are the past employers contacted?
  They might indeed call your last employer without your permission, and they are also free to gather information about you in any way they can.

• Can an employer find out about a person through a totally different source?
  Yes, Some employers now ask permission to look up your credit rating and debt history, on the assumption that if you can't handle your personal finances well, then you might not be capable of handling your job well.

• What does the company do when it receives a resume?
  Most company have their own way of handle resumes. But, they would generally are carefully vetted and if a job is not available would be place on record for future reference.

• Do they bother if they see that the person was in a foreign country for a few years?
  Yes, they will ask questions about why, and what you were doing.