In days gone by the resume references were always included at the end of the resume, but times have changed. Because there are generally 2 or even 3 job interviews before a decision is made, most employers prefer not to have this information until later in the hiring process, as it just gives them more information than they need at the start of what could be a long process.
Of course, if the job advertisement requests references, then you do include them with your resume. Otherwise you can just state that references are available upon request on your resume, and leave it until later before sending them to your prospective employer.
However, you do need to have both professional and personal references available. It is advisable to check with these people in advance to make sure that they are willing to be a reference for you, and you should also make sure that they are prepared to give you a good reference!
resume references are important to have
Your references should have known you for at least one year, and be able to vouch for your conduct and personal character, as well as your attitude, strengths and weaknesses, academic qualifications, communication skills, and management and leadership skills. Now not everyone will necessarily know this about you, which is why you need to have usually 3 personal references as well as 3 professional references.
You should cover with each of these individuals in turn what you are hoping they can confirm for you. For example, you may use a former teacher as a reference, and may want them to confirm that you handed in assignments on time, you were punctual and took on a leadership role in that particular class. It is always advisable to remind these references of what you did do for them, as we all forget things, and what was important to us was probably much less so to them!
Keep in touch with people from you past that you may need for a reference in the future. Make sure you know whether to give a personal address for them, or a business one, and the same with phone numbers, when you are asked for reference details. Advise your references of the job interviews you have had, and who may be contacting them for a reference in the near future. If there is a best time for them to be reached, find that out, or if they are likely to be away when you need them. If so, you may need to find an alternate reference. Think about who to use well in advance!
For professional references, if the reference has their own job in the field you are applying, then make sure you give their job title, as it could be an advantage to you to do so. Ask whether you can list an email address as a contact for them, and confirm the address. They may choose to use a personal email rather than a business one, or vice versa.
When you are listing your references, it is helpful to state whether they are a business associate, an employer, a supervisor, or a co-worker. This can help your interviewer understand the relationship between your references and you, whether it is personal or business related.
So to conclude, prepare your list of references in advance, but do not write your resume references in your actual resume unless requested to do so, only provide them when they are requested, and of course, make sure they are accurate.
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