Before you appoint anybody as your referee, ensure the person (or Organisation) is NOTABLE and CREDIBLE.
By Collins Wanderi
Every profession; trade, craft or sector has distinguished entities; men and women who can pass judgement on your qualifications; expertise, quality of work or service.
Be bold to approach or write to such entities or individuals requesting them to be your mentors or referees, explaining what you know about them and why you wish to appoint them as your mentor or referee.
Download PDF: Here is the Final BBI Report (3MBs)
DO NOT ever ever list anybody who has not agreed to be your mentor/referee as one. It is suicidal. Once a person/entity agrees to be your referee, YOU MUST draft a note indicating what you would want them to tell potential employers or clients about you. If they approve the note, then request them to reduce it to a general commendation letter which you can attach to your job or client reference applications.
You do the draft commendation letter because you’re the one looking for a job or new clients, not your referee. The referee cannot denounce the good things they have written and attested about you!
Read Also: Looking for Job/Promotion? Here is a List of People you Should Never Include in Your CV as Referees
If a person declines to sign a general commendation letter for you, DELETE them from your list of referees immediately. My last article on this will have a sample general commendation letter.
NB: Professionals such a Lawyers, Engineers, Architects & Quantity Surveyors, Accountants, Auditors, Real Estate/Property Managers & GeneralContractors such as Builders, Civil, Electrical & Mechanical technicians/fabricators; Sanitary Service Providers, Transporters, Couriers, Caregivers, Landscapers, Painters, Decorators & Interior Designers, Publishers & Editors et al do also require referees to thrive in private practice & business.
Lack of references and too much JUA KALI MENTALITY is the reason a lot of StartUps and SMEs in Kenya die within the first 2 years of starting business.
Collins Wanderi is a forensic audit expert with vast experience in the field amounting to decades.