prepare-professional-references

# prepare-professional-references Ask people to confirm work they directly know. ## When to use - Use when a process requests references or when preparing likely contacts in advance. - Do not list someone without consent or coach them to repeat claims they cannot verify. ## Procedure 1. Identify the role, capabilities likely to be checked, employer, timing, format, and any reference policy. 2. Select people with direct, recent knowledge of distinct relevant work and consider a former manager alternative if the current employer is confidential. 3. Ask permission privately, explain the role and likely timing, and make refusal easy. 4. Confirm preferred name, title at the time of work, current title if relevant, relationship, contact channel, time zone, and availability. 5. Send the current resume, job description, shared projects, dates, and truthful topics they may be asked about. 6. Resolve factual discrepancies before submission without scripting praise. 7. Share only the employer-requested reference data through the verified channel. 8. Notify the reference before contact, thank them afterward, and update future-use consent. 9. Record what was shared and delete unnecessary copies of personal contact data. ## Failure plan - If a reference cannot verify a claim, correct the application or choose a qualified source. - If an employer asks for sensitive or inappropriate personal information, request the job-relevant purpose and boundaries. ## Done - A permissioned reference list contains accurate relationship, role, contact, availability, and relevant evidence context - Reference and employer communications are verified, minimal, timely, and reconciled with application claims