Many times applicants express concern about one or more of their references.

If this applies to you consider using a Reference Checking service to check your own references. Many of these services will do complete work reference checks of $100-$200. Some will do individual reference checks if you are just concerned about one reference. In these instances the costs are usually less.

Why in the world would you want to spend your own, hard earned money to check your references when it should be the employers responsibility? Having your own references checked by a professional Reference Checking service can give you an advantage over your peers. When you send an employer your resume and include your independently verified references you are providing the employer with information that your peers are not providing. Not 1 in 1000 applicants does this. If you are going after a highly desirable job, with a great company, in a great location you want every advantage you can get.

The $100-$200 is money well spent if you are worried about a bad reference from a former employer.

What do you do if you get a bad reference? It happens. Not all of us get along with everybody. If the bad reference is a personality conflict between you and your boss, find someone else who can vouch for the work you did, and who can indicate that you did have a personality conflict. When prospective employers ask for your references tell them about the personality conflict. Then give them the name of the person that is critical of you and one-two names of other people in the organization that can speak positively about you. The prospective employer will appreciate your honesty. They will also be expecting the worst when they call the person you had the personality conflict with. The worst rarely happens, when personality conflicts occur both parties typically recognize them. The person you didn't get along with normally wants to assist you as best they can, even if you didn't get along with them.

An employer once said, "Show me a job applicant who has never rubbed a boss the wrong way and I'll show you a job applicant that has never done anything."

Sooner or later a personality conflict happens to most of us. Just address it head on.

What happens if you were fired for cause? When employers ask for references explain it. Don't try to duck it. Most employers will find out about the termination. It is better to tell them about it and explain your side of the story.

What does a person do who has been fired for cause several times? First, we would hope the person has straightened out their life. If not, they need to get help and take that step. Second, tell it like it is, and hope an employer will give the person another chance. Third, work very, very hard, and use all the support groups necessary to see that it doesn't happen again.