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What is Personal Reference?

Published in Employment Terminology 1 min read

A personal reference is someone who knows an applicant outside of a professional work environment. These individuals are typically encountered in social settings or through community involvement.

Based on the provided information, here's a breakdown of what a personal reference entails:

  • Who They Are: People an applicant knows outside of work.
  • How They Met: Through social situations or community organizations.
  • What They Provide: Firsthand knowledge about how a candidate behaves, even if they have no experience seeing the candidate in a work setting.

Essentially, a personal reference offers insight into an individual's character, reliability, and general conduct from a non-professional perspective.

Key Characteristics of a Personal Reference

Characteristic Description
Relationship Knows the applicant outside of professional work.
Context of Meeting Met in social situations or community groups.
Information Shared Provides firsthand knowledge of the applicant's behavior and character.
Professional View Does not necessarily need to have seen the candidate in a work environment.

Utilizing personal references can offer potential employers a broader understanding of a candidate's qualities beyond just their resume and work history.