Bijan Shahrokhi 
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Article Contents
There’s a lot that goes into securing a product manager job interview. From a strong work history to demonstrated success in the field, there’s no shortage of steps you can take to get your foot in the door. However, with so much to think about, many candidates forget that they’ll probably need to provide work references.
A professional reference is someone who can answer questions about your work history, work style, on-the-job skills, and other related subject matter. In other words, solid references are critical to landing an interview and/or receiving a job offer.
With that in mind, let’s dive into some tips for obtaining the references you need.
1. Confirm Their Availability (and more)
A hiring manager who wants to make a decision in the near future is a hiring manager who needs to speak with your references as soon as possible. So, before you include someone as a reference, double-check that they are willing to do it and have immediate availability in their schedule.
Don’t just assume that your references will move this task to the top of their to-do list. Remember, they have professional and personal obligations, too. They may not be available at every time of the day to provide a reference.
Verify in advance that they have 15 to 30 minutes in their schedule — in the near future — to speak with the hiring company. If a reference turns down the first time and then says “I am out of town for the next week” it could hold you back from receiving a job offer.
Also, verify with your references that they’re available to communicate with the hiring company through their preferred method. Some companies are okay with traditional phone calls, while others would rather chat with references via video conference.
Finally, you must be 100 percent sure that the person will say good things about you. Believe it or not, many candidates have missed out on job opportunities because of a reference who shares “less than impressive” feedback. Sometimes they do so on purpose, sometimes they do so by mistake. But either way, it’s detrimental to your chances of receiving an offer.
2. Focus on Variety When Choosing References
There are two important points here:
- Choose references from different fields: For example, all your references shouldn’t be engineers or product designers. It’s best to mix these up as much as you can. Also, try to select references who’ve had different relationships with you, such as supervisors and colleagues.
- Choose references from different times in your career: This depends largely on your work history, but it’s something to at least consider. Maybe you’ve been a product manager for 10 years. In this case, choose a reference that you recently worked with, as well as someone from five and 10 years ago. This shows that you developed meaningful professional relationships with people at all your stops.
You’re likely to be asked for three references, so you’ll have the opportunity to provide variety in the forms above.
3. Be Sure They Can Support Your Narrative
Even if you’re personal friends with a professional reference, it’s essential to have a brief conversation with the person. Touch on details such as:
- The company you’re interviewing with
- The position you’re interviewing for
- Where you are in the process
- The points you want them to focus on
- Your career goals and objectives
For instance, if you have concerns about your ability to work effectively on a large team, convey this to your references. Talk through potential opportunities for them to share examples of how you worked successfully on a team in the past.
4. Choose References That are Pleasant to Chat With
This should go without saying, but it’s a point that’s often overlooked. You focus so much time on the tips above — or simply finding the required number of references — that you skate right past this detail.
Nobody wants to chat with someone who is grumpy, standoffish, and unwilling to provide detailed answers. Not only does this waste the person’s time, but it also puts you in a bad light. It could lead the hiring company to request another reference, which puts you on the spot.
If you have concerns that a reference will act in any way but professional and friendly, leave them off your list.
5. Start Soon, Shoot High
The second you decide to apply for a product management job is the second you should create a list of potential references. Should you wait until the last minute, you increase the risk of choosing the wrong references. And when that happens, landing a job offer is less likely.
Along the same lines, aim to find more references than requested from you. Maybe the hiring company asks for three professional references. Rather than focus on three and three only, make a shortlist of five to seven references. It’s also good practice to share four references — when only three are requested — so they have an option if someone is unable to accommodate meeting them soon.
Start by reaching out to your three top choices. If everything checks out, you can use them as your references and move on. But if you find that one or more of these people is unable or unwilling to help, you can quickly move down your list. This approach also leaves you with a “backup” list to call on should the hiring company need another reference for any reason.
Final Thoughts
Hiring companies consider many factors when comparing candidates and making job offers. You can help yourself by providing access to high-quality, professional job references. This is something to think about well in advance of applying for open PM positions. Doing so allows you to seamlessly move through the process of providing references that will put you in a positive light.
Once you’re squared away on this front, you have more time and energy to prepare for the interview itself. We have all the resources you need including a large library of common interview questions (with answers), a PM interview course, and the opportunity to connect with mock interview partners. With knowledge of what to expect in your interview, supreme confidence, and solid references, you’re in a good position to proceed.
