Reviewer Reference Applicant Information Applicant's Work Job Application

Many job applications ask the "applicant" (the person asking for a job) to submit a list of three "professional" (related to work, not personal life) "references," or people whom they can speak with to learn additional information about the applicant. If the application reviewer is interested in learning more about a particular applicant after reviewing the application, he or she may contact one or more references.

Usually, the reviewer calls the reference or sends him or her an email message. First, the reviewer wants to "confirm" (make sure; verify) that the reference know the applicant and is familiar with his or her work. The reviewer may ask a few basic questions to confirm whether the information in the application is truthful. For example, the reviewer may ask the reference where the applicant studied to see whether the reference's "response" (answer; reply) "matches" (is the same as) the information on the application.

Then, the reviewer typically asks questions about the applicant's quality of work. The reviewer might ask whether the reference has been "pleased" (satisfied) with the applicant's work in the past. Then the reviewer might ask the reference to comment on the applicants "strengths" (the things one does well) and "weaknesses" (the things one does not do well). References typically "comment on" (say something about; provide an opinion on) the applicant's ability to work well with others as part of a team, or ability to work "independently" (without very much supervision).

The conversation usually ends with the reviewer asking whether the reference would recommend the applicant for the new job, as well as whether there is anything else the reviewer should know about the applicant.