Speak with your references before beginning a job search

History has taught us that people are as changeable as the wind. I am sure that we have all had an experience where a friend or acquaintance said one thing and then changed it to something else a day later. This is human nature and nobody can control the changes except the person making the change. With that being said, let's consider your job references. When you decide to look for a new job, it's a good idea to touch base with your references. Stage your tasks Looking for a new job and verifying that your references are still on your side can be a staged process. You can begin your job search and post your resume before contacting your references but don't wait too long. Step One - get noticed A good first step in your job search is to get your resume posted on all the job sites.