Whether for a manager or someone just starting out professionally, every employer is naturally interested in finding out how a prospective new employee has conducted themselves in the past.

In Germany, everyone who leaves an employer is entitled to a qualified certificate of employment. Especially those just starting out in their career should make sure that they actually get that.

The less work experience a candidate has, the more important it becomes to present previous employment as detailed as possible.

Once in a while a potential employer will specifically request personal references. In that case you should have already talked to your former superior to find out whether they might be willing to give that. Often giving the reference consists of a short phone call between the new and old boss. Hence, it is important to make sure in advance that such a call would be welcome, or the tone of the talk will have a negative connotation from the start.

Especially for someone who has been working abroad in a country where qualified certificates like in Germany are not common, should make sure they can get this kind of reference.