How Should You List References On A Resume

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How should you list references on a resume? The answer: you should not list them on your resume at all. It is not professional or ethical to give out this information at this stage of the game.

Though you may think that you are doing a potential employer a service by offering them your professional references, prior to them asking for them-it actually information that could be getting in their way. They will likely not call all references that they find in the first phase of resume application acceptance. They first, must review and evaluate the resumes they get, weed out the ones less qualified, and pursue the applicants that they are interested in for the position advertised.

So, if the professional references are not contacted at the time of resume receipt, when are they contacted? More often than not, in a professional position hiring process; it goes something like this: you send in a resume, perhaps with an attachment of your salary requirements and/or samples, if applicable to your field and position. Next, the hiring manager or employer reviews all resumes that they receive, chooses a handful that they are interested in interviewing, and contacts these individuals. If you were not chosen, you will likely get an email or mailed response to this end. If you were chosen for an interview, they will either hold a phone interview for further screening, or ask you to come into the office for a formal in person interview. Typically, either when they schedule an in person interview, or at the conclusion of the first or second interview; they will ask you for your professional references.

At that time, you should have a separate document that includes only information about your professional references to give them. It should include at least three professional references, and these references should have been contacted for their permission, as well as be references that you worked with or for; that will likely give you a positive professional reference on the job related questions that your potential employer may ask of them.

Once you have a working list of 3-6 professional references, you need to know how to present it in the document that a potential employer will ask you to email or give them in person. You should include the full name of this reference, their affiliation to you, how long you have known them, their current job title, and their current contact information. Moreover, it is recommended that if you haven’t spoken to a professional reference in awhile, that you reconnect with them to ensure that they have the same contact information, as well as to give them a heads up that someone might be calling them regarding a professional position. This will help show them your respect for your connection to them, as well as mentally prepare them with what they might say on your professional behalf.