In a world where word of mouth plays a vital role in our lives, employers assuring others in their category, about an employee they would love to have again on their team, is an added advantage for you.
I usually don’t look forward to watching the first day first show of a movie.
Reason being simple, I am not sure if the movie deserves even a little amount of my hard earned money.
However, if there’s a movie I have been looking forward to watching since a long time, and I get a feeling that the first show shouldn’t be missed, I make sure that I am only of those who claims to have watched the first show.
We’re not talking about a movie or a show here.
We’re talking about something that could make your prospective recruiter choose you over the other candidates. Something that could give your hiring manager an insight into your capabilities and other potentials.
We see why having a reference letter from your previous employer/employers could improve your chances of getting hired.
Endorses you
To get ahead in life you need to show the world what you’re good at. When you think of self-endorsement, all you can think of are arrogant know-it-alls. Yet, there are a few ways to endorse yourself, which would make you, stand out in the competition. That, is what a reference letter does to your profile. Because, a reference letter is a form of feedback from your previous employer, it is not considered as self promotion. Providing a reference letter to your prospective employee does not just make you different from more than half of the applicants, but also demonstrates that area of your expertise, which your resume or cover letter does not.
Qualified or not
On a general note, people don’t really mention their qualifications on the resume. The applicant’s professional qualifications are usually mentioned in body of a reference letter. Your reference letter talks about your achievements and accomplishments from someone who witnessed it. Apart from the accomplishments, it also gives your prospective recruiter a look at your credentials and awards.
Personal and professional
Apart from your endorsing you and talking about your qualification, a reference letter also explains the personal qualities you possess, that may benefit your professional life. Pointing out your abilities such as good communication skills, flexibility to work, willingness to accept responsibility, from somebody whom you worked with, is an added bonus for you.
Recognition
Being appreciated for something you gave your cent percent to, feels nice, especially when the appreciation comes from the organization you worked for. It depends on you, if you want to use the recognition as a medium to get better opportunity or a better position. But your reference letter does save your time to get selected, since your prospective employer need not spend time contacting and interrogating the person who wrote the reference letter for you (wink).
A reference letter gives your future employer more information than they would get by calling up at the HR department of your previous company. In a world where word of mouth plays a vital role in our lives, employers assuring others in their category, about an employee they would love to have again on their team, is an added advantage for you. What you need to make sure is that your previous employer liked your work and not the other way round (wink).
