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Including References on Your Resumé
Have you ever wondered what the most commonly used line on a resumé is? It may well be: "References available upon request."
There is an ongoing debate among human-resources professionals about the advisability of including references on your resumé. Some people will tell you that it is essential to include the aforementioned line at the bottom of your resumé. In this way you let 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 that this line has become a job-hunting cliché and offers neither information nor a call to action. According to this line of thinking, we should be able to assume that every professional with a resumé will be able to provide references from previous employers. Among this group you will find some who will urge you not only to include this section in your resumé, 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?
All professional job-search advisors agree that there needs to be at least some mention of professional references in your resumé. By including a section for your references at the bottom of your resumé you let your potential employer know that you both have professional references and understand that checking references is an important part of your interview process. Additionally, unless the job listing requires you to include references on your resumé, having a prospective employer request references gives you the opportunity to let your references know they can expect to be contacted. Listing someone as your reference on your resumé 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, even if they've given you general permission to use their name as a reference and know you are engaged in an ongoing job search. To ensure you'll get glowing recommendations, you'll want to let them know the particulars of the job you are applying for so they know which qualifications they should highlight when they are contacted.
If you are posting your resumé on job search web sites, such as monster.com, or are working with a head hunter to find the best opportunities for you, it is best to keep with some variation on the old standard "References available upon request" at the end of your resumé. Since you are presenting your resumé scattershot to all possible employers who might be interested in you, you want to make sure to have some control over their access to your references, as well as a chance to give those references a heads-up that they will soon be contacted.. Listing references on your resumé 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. The last thing you want is for your references to become tired of being contacted and view such calls as annoyances, which guarantees less than enthusiastic responses. In addition, including contact information for your references on a publicly available resumé could be seen as a breach of privacy.
If you are sending a resumé to a specific employer and have been in touch with the hiring manager or another person at the company who has referred you for the job you are interested in, it may be wise to include references on your resumé. This allows your potential employer to have all the information necessary to consider you as a serious candidate for the job. Particularly in a down job market, not having to go through the extra step of requesting your references may well be just enough of a plus to turn a maybe into a hire The reference list should include each person's name, title, company name, relationship to you, and day-time telephone number. As a best practice, before you submit the resumé, let your references know about the job opportunity, and inform them that you are passing along their contact information to the potential employer.
If you have already submitted a resumé without references, but are going to meet with the employer for an interview, bring a printed copy of your resumé that includes a list of references. After a promising interview, employers typically check references. Because hiring managers like to have all your paperwork in one place, you will want to bring a clean copy of your cover letter, your resumée and your references to give to them. Your vigilance is sure to make a great impression and bring you one step closer to getting the job you want.
The careful and diligent use of references can help ensure you get the job you are looking for. Cultivating good references can go a long way to that sought-after "you're hired."
