A Resume Reference Guide

Are you looking for a new job? Hopefully you are not having any problems creating or updating your resume or CV? Writing a resume or CV can certainly feel very daunting but often turn out to not be such an ordeal as it seems, but there are still many mistakes that can be made. One of these concerns references.

On your resume or CV, it is very likely that you will list references. These can be two types, personal references or professional ones, though some applications may ask for both.

Once you know what is likely to be asked for in the way of references on your resume/ CV you may want to list them right away, but do give thought to this before you do so, think carefully about who your references will be. Do not be tempted to rush the job and list no references at all, when only submitting a CV/resume for a job application you may get away with listing no references, but if you are still arranging them and getting their permissions then it is far better to at least state “references available upon request,” putting nothing can make hirers suspicious and result in your application being rejected.

Do not make the mistake of not asking first if you can use a reference, in almost every application for a job , references that are given are checked out and this makes it important that you ask those whose references you would like, before giving their name.

Maybe you were cutting it fine to meet the deadline for submitting a job application and you sent it without asking your named references first? In this case, let them know as soon as possible that you used their names for a reference and that they may be contacted. If they are not prepared and they are contacted for a reference, it may well affect their opinion of you.

In most of my previous job applications, especially later in my career, the application process only requested professional references and made it clear that it was not personal ones that they wanted. However, some companies do request both professional and personal references. In this case, two of each is an ideal combination.

Good references, properly requested much improve your chances of landing an interview and possibly that dream job.

Valerie Hartland