In the highly specialized world of industrial projects, your professional references can make the difference between landing that senior turnaround planning role and being passed over. While many planners and schedulers focus on perfecting their Primavera P6 skills or refining their cost control methodologies, the power of a strong reference network often goes overlooked. Yet in an industry where project success depends heavily on experience and proven capability, who speaks for your abilities matters more than ever.

 

The dynamic nature of industrial projects means that your work impacts a wide range of stakeholders. Each successful turnaround, each well-executed capital project, and each optimized schedule creates opportunities to build lasting professional relationships. These connections, when properly nurtured, become invaluable advocates for your career advancement in planning, scheduling, and cost control.

 

 

Think of building your reference portfolio as assembling an all-star project team. Each member brings unique insights into your capabilities as a planning and scheduling professional. The most effective references for project controls positions typically come from these key relationships:

 

•        Turnaround Directors and Managers who can speak to your ability to handle complex shutdowns, manage resource constraints, and deliver projects on schedule. Their perspective on how you handle the pressure of critical path management and schedule optimization carries significant weight with potential employers.

 

•        Project Managers who have witnessed your scheduling expertise in action. They can provide specific examples of how your planning work contributed to project success, including your ability to integrate multiple contractors, manage schedule risks, and adapt to changing project conditions.

 

•        Operations Managers who have experienced the benefits of your planning work firsthand. Their testimony about your ability to balance maintenance requirements with production goals demonstrates your practical understanding of industrial operations.

 

•        Senior Cost Controllers who can verify your proficiency with earned value management, cost forecasting, and budget control. Their endorsement particularly matters when seeking roles that combine planning and cost control responsibilities.

 

•        Lead Planners or Scheduling Managers from previous roles who can detail your technical expertise with industry-standard tools and methodologies. Their insight into your day-to-day capabilities and growth potential carries particular weight in technical evaluations.

 

 

Building and maintaining reference relationships requires a strategic approach. Before listing anyone as a reference, engage in a thoughtful discussion about your career goals within the planning and scheduling domain. Share your current resume, discuss target positions, and highlight specific projects or achievements you'd like them to emphasize.

 

For example, if you're targeting a role focused on refinery turnarounds, remind your references of specific shutdown projects where your planning work made a crucial difference. Help them recall how your scheduling decisions helped avoid costly delays or how your resource planning optimized contractor utilization.

 

Stay connected with your references between projects through industry events, professional associations, and platforms like LinkedIn. Share updates about your continuing education in project controls, new certifications, or successful project completions. Remember that these relationships should be mutually beneficial – look for opportunities to support their professional goals as well.

 

 

Create a systematic approach to managing your references that goes beyond maintaining contact information. Document the unique perspective each reference can provide about your planning and scheduling capabilities. Note specific projects they can discuss, technical skills they can verify, and examples of your impact on project outcomes they witnessed firsthand.

 

Consider creating different reference combinations for various types of positions:

 

•        For turnaround planning roles, prioritize references who can speak to your experience with shutdown scheduling and contractor coordination

•        When pursuing capital project positions, focus on references who can attest to your long-term planning capabilities and interface management skills

•        For cost control-focused roles, emphasize references who can verify your experience with earned value management and cost forecasting

 

 

In our connected world, references extend beyond traditional phone calls. LinkedIn recommendations, testimonials on professional portfolios, and endorsements from industry leaders all contribute to your professional credibility. Manage these digital references with the same care you apply to traditional references, ensuring they present a coherent story about your capabilities in project controls.

 

If you are a sustaining member of the iAPSCC® leverage the Verified Reference benefit to prequalify your professional references.

 

 

When preparing to update your references, ensure you've covered these key areas:

 

•        Verify current contact information and professional titles

•        Confirm their preferred method and timing for contact

•        Review specific projects or achievements they can discuss

•        Update them on your current career goals

•        Confirm their continued willingness to serve as a reference

•        Share your latest resume and any relevant certifications

 

 

Remember that your references are invaluable allies in your career journey. By thoughtfully managing these relationships and strategically deploying their support, you create a powerful network of advocates for your professional success. In an industry where reputation and proven experience matter enormously, your reference network can be the key that unlocks your next career opportunity.