All the preparations for the interview – the grilling questions and the apprehensions of the interview day – can be effectively dealt with when one sits down to work on the resume. The way you format your resume and the information that you provide in it plays a decisive role in your interview. Many questions pertaining to the layout, format and presentation of resume are posed by prospective employees. However, even before the resume reaches them, there are certain questions that might bog you while writing a resume and ‘how many references should be posted in a resume’ is one of them, along with ‘how to actually present the references in a resume?’ A reference is a person who knows you well professionally and can ensure the credibility of various abilities and qualities that you have mentioned in your resume. Most of the employers today ask the candidates to present a reference list, which makes their recruitment task easier since they get a testimony from some other person on your work and abilities. Mentioned below are some tips to use references on a resume. Follow these tips and present your references properly to secure a post awaiting you.
Tips To Use References On A Resume
Present It Professionally
The reference list should be prepared flawlessly and should be presented in the same formal way as the resume and the cover letter. The reference list should re-emphasize the positive impression the employer has about you. Keep the reference letter well prepared in advance and present it immediately when asked for during or after the interview. Do not search for the contact names in your file when asked to provide reference, it will show your unpreparedness and lack of confidence.
"References" And "Employment Verification" Are Different
Nothing can be more disappointing for the prospective employer than the fact that you cannot differentiate between ‘employment verification’ and ‘reference’. Employment verification is the process of background check where your potential employer contacts your current and previous employers to verify your work experience. On the other hand, a professional reference is given so that the potential employer can have some idea of the quality of your work from someone who knows you professionally. Verification is done to detect fraud while references are required to judge your abilities.
Choose The Right Person For The List
The names that you include in your reference page play an important role in determining your recruitment. Select people who can provide specific examples of your work, working style and abilities to the prospective employer. Try to provide 3-4 references and make sure that they are a mix bag of people from your entire work experience – references can be given of managers, bosses as well as peers, colleagues and even subordinates or people who were reporting to you. This will provide a complete picture of your working style and your abilities to the present employer.
Present The Reference On Right Time
You have developed your reference contact after some hard work and you would surely not want to lose them. Therefore, the time you present your reference should be accurate. The best time to share your references’ name and address with the prospective employer is after your interview process is over and you feel that you have a good chance of being recruited.
Make The References Approachable
The reference sheet, which you present, should provide the correct information of your references like name, contact umber, address and the current job. Also beneficial would be to provide a small background on their job profiles and the nature of association you’ve had with them. Make sure that all the information provided is accurate and presented in a professional manner because the way you present it can also affect your recruitment decision.
Prepare Your References
Nothing can be more unfortunate than losing a good opportunity owing to the unpreparedness of your reference. Make sure you prepare your reference for the reference check call that she/he might get from the employer’s firm. Provide all the information about yourself like your accomplishments, your career goals, interests, strengths and even a copy of your resume to the reference well in advance to avoid any un-pleasantries on account of lack of information.
The purpose of professional references in the hiring process is to verify the information that you provide in the resume. Well, if you are wondering how many references should be provided on a resume and basically how to present them, surfing through this write up can help you quite a bit.
