In a recent online conversation among career professionals, the optimal number of references to provide a potential employer was discussed. The consensus was that providing too many references could be off-putting, confusing, and even disrespectful towards a potential employer’s time and resources – an example that yes, too much of a good thing can be bad.
The group agreed that it’s in a job seeker’s best interest to be strategic and targeted with which references they provide. The ideal number of references to provide is 3 to 4. Any more than that can run the risk of someone slipping and giving a less than stellar comment or something that could be misconstrued – assuming the employer even contacts all the names provided.
I advise clients to keep a master list of references from which they can pull the most appropriate 3 (max 4) to provide for a particular position. I also recommend clients contact references whose names and contact information is being provided so they are not caught off-guard by a call. There are 2 advantages to the job seeker of doing this:
- Allows you to guide the reference on which strengths or professional skills are most relevant for this opportunity
- Provides a valid opportunity to catch up and check in with a person in your network
Along related lines, most hiring companies today check social media during the hiring process so it’s smart to have several recommendations on your LinkedIn profile.
