The list of references is something people are confused about when they sit down to write their resumes. There are many questions that come up in terms of including references on your application documents. Though the question is somewhat tricky because career professionals give different answers, it is clear that references can demonstrate either your professionalism or your lack of one. Due to recent inquiries of our clients on this issue, the team of Prime-resume writers has decided to help our clients and readers to know more about references on a resume.
Resume Writing Tips: References
First and foremost, job seekers have to know that including references directly on your resume isn't necessary unless it is demanded by the job opening. Sometimes they just include "References are available upon request" phrase at the end of a resume, which doesn't really bring any useful information to an employer. The references will matter further into the process of interviewing; therefore we cannot say that references are not important at all. Most resume writing professionals recommend creating a reference page that you can provide upon the request of hiring or interviewing authorities.
A reference page is basically a document that contains your reference list. It is usually sent along with your resume or provided upon the request of an employer. Your references are people who know you well and who can confirm certain skills and abilities. The point of this document is to make the life of hiring authorities easier. Therefore, it is always better to show that you care enough to spend another half an hour to prepare a reference page and send it along with your resume. There are several things about creating a reference page you should know. Job seekers are to include from three to six references, most of which should be real people you know on a professional level (i.e. not just family members). Before including someone on the list, ask permission of those people - they might not want to be your references or simply won't be available for contact. The best way is to list your strongest references first.
Usually, good references are current employers, managers, colleagues, professors (for student and recent graduates), etc. Resume writing and career experts also recommend providing a copy of your resume to your references so that they could recall your qualifications and past experience. You could also let them what position you are applying for - it may help them understand the questions better.
Professional Writing: Formatting the Reference Page
Resume writing experts say that your contact information should always go first on a reference page. You can copy-paste from your resume header. For every reference, you should list the following: full name, company/organization name, title/position, email address (optional), and telephone number. Job seekers should understand that a reference page is an important addition to a resume or CV so no one should ignore it. The professionally developed reference list will only increase your chances of getting an interview invitation. Like many other details, it can make a difference between success and failure.
