Carefully Select Your References!
A reference page is a separate listing of individuals who are qualified and agree to be contacted by a recruiter or supervisor to support your candidacy for employment or promotion. Do not include references on or with your resume unless you are asked to do so.
Nursing and teaching job candidates are often required to include references along with the resume, cover letter, and application form in a package mailing. Otherwise, do not assume that a recruiter will need or be willing to examine and contact your references until you learn that you have been selected as a serious candidate for a position. You will then be asked to furnish them.
Whenever possible, meet in person with a potential reference and cordially request if he/she would be willing to serve as a reference in your job search. Avoid family members, close friends, clergy, and non-literate people, for you may lose credibility as a strong candidate. Three to five references from current and former employers and other competently literate and qualified people are sufficient and will usually represent an acceptable pool from which hirers will draw information to “flesh out” your competencies for the position.
Keep a few reference pages and extra resumes with you at interviews, for you may be asked to submit one or more at the conclusion of an interview. Always inform your references when you secure a new position and thank them for their assistance. Not only will this polite gesture assure them that they have been of assistance in your hiring, but you will further establish your needed link to them in the event that you may have to call upon them again for assistance in any future job searches or in seeking internal promotions.
Always choose people who will most likely enhance your candidacy with a thorough understanding of your employment qualifications, personal integrity, and proven job-related strengths. Since you will be asked to provide references from recent employers or supervisors, keep this information handy and current.
Send your resume and additional biographic and work-related information to your reference people to strengthen your candidacy in their minds and provide a sharper image of you and your qualifications for them to forward to an inquiring potential employer. Such added and helpful information may not be apparent in your current credentials, and recent accomplishments may remain unknown to those participating as your references. Well chosen supporters can jump-start your career opportunities, while hastily selected references may inhibit, stall, or seriously damage your job search.
Seasoned workers will be asked to provide references from supervisors, vice-presidents, directors, managers, and others who evaluated and observed their special accomplishments and daily project assignments. Recent college graduates may include professors, administrators, staff members, internship supervisors, and part-time employers. In addition, one personality and character reference may be important to a hirer if a workplace culture and environment demand specific individual traits of a new hire to fit in and succeed effectively.
Your information and style may vary in accordance with the requests and/or limitations of designated references. Triple-space between entries to adequately separate references for clarity. Carefully check accuracy of spelling, addresses, and contact information before submitting your references page to recruiters. Errors here will be frustrating to the inquiring screener, embarrassing to you, and possibly lead to your exclusion as a suitable candidate.
