If the people you ask employers to contact as recommendations are anything but easy to reach, and highly enthusiastic, you could lose out on an offer, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her April 7 Ask Annie column. Do you have good references? Has a reference ever surprised you by saying something negative? Ever said anything not-so-nice when asked for a reference? What’s the worst reference you’ve heard or gotten?

Once you’ve agreed in writing to take a job, getting out of it to accept a better offer can be tricky, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her July 31 Ask Annie column. Have you ever accepted a job, then changed your mind? Did it cause any career problems immediately, or later on? Have you ever signed a noncompete, and do you think it was fair?