Read Part One first.

So some of you (in my imaginary future audience) may be wondering about the results of my first phone call as a reference. Before I found out, I got an email from the other company where my previous co-worker had listed me as a reference.

Here were the questions:

  1. Relationship: Please describe your current and/or past professional relationship with this individual (co-worker, supervisor, instructor, client, industry colleague, etc.)

  2. The Job Description and Work Environment: Please provide a summary of his/her duties and responsibilities in the position you knew him/her best.

  3. The Applicant’s Competencies: (Primary strengths, skills, talents, etc.) Points of interest: communication skills, interpersonal skills, follows direction, punctuality, time management, dealing with stress or frustrations. Please provide examples if available.

  4. Overall Job Performance: How well did this person satisfy the objectives of the position in which you knew him/her?

  5. Areas for Improvement: Please describe any areas where you feel this person could improve, develop, or benefit from additional training, education, or experience.

  6. Reason for Job Separation: Why did this person leave his/her employment at the company from which you knew him/her?

  7. Rehire and/or Recommendation Comments: Do you have any hesitation in recommending this person for a position requiring a high degree of responsibility or public trust?

  8. Closing comments?

Answering these questions over email was much easier than on the phone since I could take my time to eloquently express my thoughts. In fact, I wish I had gotten this email first so that I could have taken the time to talk about my former teammate’s strengths and come up with concrete examples. In addition, it would have helped me answer the nuclear questions (#5 and #6) with a more positive spin.

Before I replied, I received a message from my referencee. (I know referencee isn’t a word but the English language needs a word for the person who asks you to be their reference.)

Here was his exact message:

THANKS FOR THE REC! IM PRETTY SURE THAT IT HELPED A LOT BECAUSE I BOMBED THE ONSITE!!!!

I thought to myself that he had done so well that he got the job in spite of my stuttering and lack of preparedness but all’s well that ends well!