Kaye Monty

Recent events have inspired me to share my knowledge about references for the job seeker.  Here are a couple of pointers:

1) Do not list references on your resume – It is assumed that a company will ask for your references if you are one of the finalist or are on the verge of receiving a job offer.  There is no need to write “references will be provided upon request” because it is assumed that most employers will ask for them.  Save that line to tout your accomplishments instead.  Most companies will ask you to list references on their application form.

2) Your parents are not references - Believe it or not, a parent called me to convince me that their child walks on water and should be invited for an interview.  It is not good to list your parents as a reference for a couple of reasons.  First, most parents are not impartial and think that their kids really do walk on water.  Second, helicopter parents can send the wrong message to potential employers.  If your sole job is working for your parent’s company, then try to ask someone else who worked for the company to act as your reference.  You could also provide college professors as reference if you do not have a lot of professional experience.

3) Personal references – Some employers will ask for 2 professional references and 1 personal reference.  A professional reference is someone you have worked for in the past whether it is a former manager or colleague.  You would have been paid by the company or worked as an intern or a volunteer.  A personal reference is someone you know on a personal basis.  A personal reference is usually someone you have known for a long time who can speak to your character.  I prefer contacting professional references since they tend to be more objective.  If you do not have a lot of work experience, it is ok to list one personal reference.

4) Professional references – Most employers prefer to speak with former managers or colleagues to find out what it is like to work with you.  Make sure to check with your references before giving their names to potential employers.  Give your references a heads up so that they know to expect a call.  There is nothing worse than having your references say, “John who?” to potential employers.  If you are applying for a project management position, then you might want to tell references to discuss your role in the XYZ project especially if it is relevant to your new role.

5) Most recent references - If it is at all possible, try to provide your most recent and/or most relevant references.  Most companies realize that it might be difficult to get references for your current employer especially if your current employer is unaware that you are seeking new opportunities.  Try to provide references for companies that are on your resume.  It really makes a potential employer wonder what other things you are hiding or left out on your resume if you can only provide references for companies that do not exist on your resume.

Good luck and happy hunting!