This article from Life Spy got me thinking about how we need to be checking the references that we list on job resumes to make sure that we want the references on there in the first place.

This suggestion was my favorite:

Do some covert checks. To find out if the references would be giving good remarks about you, ask someone else to pretend to be an HR person contacting them about you. This way, you can check whether your intended reference would be helpful to your cause.

You need to be damn sure that your reference doesn’t find out that you’re setting people up to check up on them, but it could be a very good way to see what they will really say about you. Don’t write off a potential employer off, assuming that they won’t call the references you list, especially if the job involves security clearance. They will definitely be doing background checks and trying to get any dirt they can from your references. Be certain that the references you list will have a favorable attitude towards your work ethic, character, and job skills.

Consider this: Instinstead of confronting your references with a speech like, “hey, I just want to make sure you are going to talk good about me if an HR generalist calls you”, try approaching them and asking them questions like, “I jus wanted to know what you think my strengths and weaknesses are in my career.” You’ll get a better idea of how they view you as an employee, and you can make a decision based on their answers about including or excluding them from your reference list.