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You successfully concluded your career guide interviews and turned in a completed job application with references. Human resources of your potential employer told you that if you are an ideal candidate, the company will proceed with a background and reference check. As you patiently wait for an update, below are two career guide tactics you should use beforehand.

Acquire Good to Great References

Before submitting your reference information, call your professional references to provide an update. Let them know that you are interviewing for a position and as a result they may receive a reference request form. Ask them if they can provide you with a great reference.

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If so, make sure you have their accurate contact information and tell them that you will send a copy of your resume and the job requisition. After your interview send another update listing key skills and competencies they should focus on; intelligence you gathered during the interview and when you asked the interviewer(s) intelligent questions about the company and position.

Use Credit Alerts for Background Check Notification

Credit monitoring is a good service to invest in. This service typically provides you with a monthly credit report from the three credit bureaus and credit alerts. Every time there’s a vital change to one of your credit reports, you will receive an email.

I currently use TrueCredit and I also receive credit alert emails every time someone runs a background check on me. For instance, I received a credit alert email when the Examiner ran a background check and an alert email when a potential employer ran a background check two weeks later. Afterwards, I reached out to my references and one of them (at the time) was contacted by a potential employer for a reference.

In conclusion, you now know how to acquire references in advance of submitting your application for employment. You also have a tool (you can use) to determine when a potential employer advances your candidacy to the background screening process. As a result, you can proactively contact your professional references to ensure they provide great references in a timely fashion; enhancing your chances for employment.

I recommend you listen to Molly Wendell’s “Get Hired Faster for the Money You Are Worth.” Visit www.blogtalkradio.com/thecareercatalyst to listen to the previous shows, register for a free BlogTalkRadio account, mark these shows as a favorite, and actively listen every Tuesday night.

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Tune in to Episode 33 “Overcome Challenges During Your Job Search,” Tuesday, February 16^th at 9PM EST with expert guest Noah Blumenthal.

The wisdom of a crowd is richer than the wisdom of a few. So get engaged in JobRadioUSA’s online career community and convince others to do the same.

Bonus Lens, Hub, and Examiner Articles You Should Read (If You Have Not Done So)

• Examiner: Four ways to Uncover Hidden Jobs
• How to Successfully Conclude Your Job Search in 2010
• How to Supercharge Your Stalled Job Search
• How to Get a Job by Networking with Your Warm Contacts
  
• Tap into the Hidden Job Market via Cold Calls
• 6 Step Process to Ace Any Job Interview
• The Characteristics of a Dynamic Resume
• The Four Components of a Dynamic Cover Letter
• How to Prepare for an Upcoming, Potential Layoff
• How to Cope with a Difficult Job Search