Resume References List (With Examples)
A resume reference is a part of a resume where the applicant provides the employer with contact and background information on the past employers, or references. This information may be used by the person responsible for the hiring process to learn more about you as a candidate, your job performance, work history, and everything else that matters if the company plans for you to join their staff.
Usually the company will ask for the references on resume at some point of the application process, but it’s also not uncommon for the employer to ask for the references later – for example, after the phone or face-to-face interview, when they have a clear idea about whether to hire you. No matter when the employer wants to see the references, it’s your responsibility to provide them with reliable and relevant contacts who can support your claim of being an outstanding candidate.
How To Write References On Resume
When working on the reference section on resume, there are some things to keep in mind. Here are a few tips on how to write the most effective references for your job application.
How many references to include
There is no particular established number of references to include in a resume simply because this number can differ according to your job history and position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re a recent graduate with no relevant work experience, your reference list may contain 2 or 3 contacts. However, if you have substantial work experience and want to land a senior position in the company, your reference list needs to be more extensive, containing people you’ve worked with at different stages of your career.
Sometimes the potential employer will provide you with the number of references they want to see on your resume. It’s not at all guaranteed that they will contact every single person on the list – in most cases, they choose 1 or 2 contacts at random. However, having an extensive selection of references gives your resume more value.
Who you can list as references
The people you put on your resume as references should be able to speak positively about your talents, achievements, and skills. Ideally, they should also be able to discuss you as a candidate specifically for the job you’re applying to. Common types of references for your resume include:
- Current or former co-workers or supervisors
- Current or former employees
- Professional mentors
- Academic supervisors
Remember that every person you put on your reference list should be comfortable with the fact that you are looking for a new job, especially if you’re including people from your current workplace.
Should you include references with the resume
By modern job application standards, you should only include references on a CV if the job posting specifically instructs you to do so. If there are no such instructions, wait until the HR manager asks you to provide the references. You also shouldn’t include the phrase “References available upon request” to your resume – it takes the valuable space of your resume and doesn’t serve any important purpose, since the potential employer will ask for them if they need them in any case.
How to ask someone to be your reference?
The common courtesy of the job seeking process is to notify your references about the fact that you’re putting their contact information on your resume. Not only is it considered polite, but it also gives your references the time to remember and phrase correctly your past achievements and relevant skills. Choose the people who you feel absolutely confident about: they should be someone who enjoyed working with you and can speak positively about you as a candidate.