Referenzperson

Referenzperson is a term used in human resources to denote a person named by a job applicant who can be contacted by a potential employer to provide information about the applicant’s professional abilities and conduct. Typical Referenzpersonen are former supervisors, team leads, colleagues, or sometimes academic mentors.

In practice, the applicant selects one or more Referenzpersonen and obtains their consent before sharing their contact details with the employer. Employers may conduct a reference check by reaching out to these contacts, or the referenzperson may provide a written reference. The goal is to verify statements made in the application and to gain insights into the applicant’s skills, performance, reliability, teamwork, and relevant experiences.

Contents and limits of reference discussions vary, but common topics include responsibilities, technical competence, communication, initiative, problem-solving, and collaboration. In many jurisdictions, including Germany, data protection rules require that the applicant’s consent is obtained and that personal data shared with a potential employer is handled in a manner consistent with the DSGVO. Referenzpersonen should provide accurate, fair, and confidential information and avoid disclosing private matters.

Best practices for applicants include choosing credible, relevant references and informing them about the potential employer and the aspects to emphasize. Referenzpersonen, in turn, should respond truthfully and succinctly, focus on professional qualifications, and respect confidentiality and privacy. In addition to spoken references, written references or Arbeitszeugnisse may accompany applications as formal attestations of performance.