Many employers check your references toward the end of the hiring process or right before they’re ready to make an offer, which is why you typically don’t need to provide your job reference ...

It’s critical to do reference checks with those who are not just above a candidate in the organization chart, but also beside and below them.

Ideally, he said, a reference will give specific examples of completed projects, rather than only generalities about how they are to work with. How will your references be contacted?

If you’re a recent graduate who doesn’t have a lot of work experience, who do you ask to be a job reference?

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jack Kelly covers career growth, job market and workplace trends.

How valid are traditional reference checks? Not very. But making them structured improves both how well they predict applicant performance and fit and reduces bias.

Companies usually call your references when you’re a finalist for a role. But you may not be the only finalist, and the reference check could determine whether you get the job.