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What is a resume and why
is it so important
How to write a
professional summary for your resume
Prioritizing job
descriptions in your resume
Including Hobbies and
interests in your resume
Reviewing your final
resume
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Including references on your resume
Have you ever wondered what the most commonly used line on a resume is? It
would have to be the all time favorite, “References available upon request.”
There is an ongoing debate among professionals about the inclusion of
references on your resume. Some people will strongly encourage you to
include the aforementioned line at the bottom of your resume. In a way, this
lets your potential employer know that, if asked, you can name at least a
couple of people that think you are a great asset to any company. The
opposing side will argue the validity of this line as it doesn’t provide any
information with a call to action; we should operate under the assumption
that every professional with a resume will be able to provide references
from his previous employers. And yet another group of professionals will
urge you not only to include this section in your resume, but list anywhere
from three to five references, along with their titles, contact numbers and
a description of your relationship to them. So, how do you know who to
listen to?
We advocate mentioning references no matter what. It is proper resume
etiquette that you include a section for your references at the bottom of
your resume. This lets your potential employer know that you not only have
professional references but you understand that checking references is an
important part of your interview process. Additionally, you will want to
have an employer request references from you so that you can let your
references know they can expect to be contacted. Listing someone as your
reference on your resume without letting them know, even if they have
previously provided a reference for you, is not a good practice. You don’t
want anyone on your reference list to be caught by surprise when they are
contacted; you’ll want to let them know about the job you are applying for
so that they know which qualifications they should highlight when they are
contacted.
If you are posting your resume on job search web sites,
or are working with a head hunter to find the best opportunities for you, it
is best that you simple use the line, “References available upon request” at
the end of your resume. As indicated above, you will want to let your
references know ahead of time if they will be contacted by a potential
employer. Listing references on your resume and making it available to
multiple employers for review may result in calls to your references by
employers you may not have even been in touch with directly. Obviously,
you’ll want to avoid this kind of annoyance to people you are using as
references. You don’t want to abuse your relationship with them; therefore
don’t include a full listing of references on your resume if you are making
it available to masses.
If you are sending a resume to a specific employer, after you have been in
touch with the hiring manager or someone at the company that will refer you
for the job you are interested in, we suggest including references on your
resume. This allows your potential employer to have all the information
necessary to consider you as a serious candidate for the job. The reference
list should include the person’s name, their title and the company they are
working for, their relationship to you and their day-time telephone number.
As a best practice, before you submit the resume, let your references know
about the job opportunity, and that you are passing along their contact
information to the potential employer.
If you have already submitted a resume without references, but are going to
meet with the employer for an interview, bring a printed copy of your resume
that includes a list of references. Following a good interview, employers
typically check references – as a best practice, you will want to provide
the hiring manager with a one-stop-shop of your qualifications and your
references, so you should always bring a printed copy of your cover letter,
your resume and references with you to an interview. Your vigilance is sure
to make a great impression and bring you one step closer to getting the job
you want.
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