What Makes A Good Reference?

Determining just who exactly your references will be is a crucial element of the job search. Unfortunately we find the the physician job seeker may spend hours working over his curriculum vitae (CV) trying to perfect it until it is the epitome of "What Color Is Your Parachute", but that same physician may spend less than ten minutes total assembling a list of names for potential references. What that physician fails to realize is that the potential employer will speak to those references in order to "flesh out" the black and white words on the CV. The CV and the references should complement each other. Sometimes the reference and the CV are at polar extremes. Therefore I suggest that you consider the following list as you compile your references.

Compile a list of three to four references, no more and certainly no less.

Make certain that your reference will say something good about you. Many times, a physician will list his immediate supervisor/superior without thinking. Hopefully your boss will say sometime good about you! Whoever you select as a reference, you should consult that person and ask these questions. Will you be a reference for me? If asked, what will you say about me? If asked, what will you say about my family? If asked whether you would hire me, what would you say? If asked whether you would let me treat a member of your family, what would you say? Do you know what my goals are and what I wish to accomplish in my career? Is there anything negative you feel toward me that I am unaware of?

Select someone who is articulate. Many times "a man of few words" or someone who is abrupt may sound as if he is damming you with faint praise. An ideal choice would be someone who can speak clearly about what your manner of job performance is, your standards and your ethics. What is said can be vitally important.

Avoid choosing anyone who may be flippant or prone to speaking without thinking first. Avoid selecting anyone with a "bad attitude". How something is said about you can be important.

Avoid being "politically correct" by balancing your list sexually, racially or ethnicly. What is said is more important than who said it.

Select someone who is currently working with you and knows your clinical standards and ethics and who can speak to them. Peers, supervisors, nurses and administrators are terrific if they will say something good about your job performance. Avoid selecting your neighbor, your clergyman or little league coach from twenty years ago.