References

References should be provided on request and listed on a separate sheet of paper. They should NOT be included as part of your resume.

References you select may include current or former supervisors, college lecturers and professors, and coaches who can attest to your ability to handle a job with professionalism and maturity. You may also list a reference from a previous place of employment where you both worked, even if that reference no longer works there. The reference can still talk about your job performance and skills.

It is a good idea to list your references in order of strength (e.g., your strongest reference should be listed first). Be sure to give your references a copy of your resume and keep them informed as to the positions you are interviewing for.

When creating a reference page, follow the same format you use for your resume.

When seeking full-time positions, list three to five references; otherwise two to three are sufficient.

The Reference Page

Employers expect you to have your references in order before the interview. Be prepared to have a reference sheet available at the interview and only give it to the interviewer when they ask for it.

Employers, in most cases, will want to speak to people who know first-hand about your work habits. So when at all possible, use the last three people you worked for as references. If you decide not to include any of your recent employers as references, hiring managers will see this as a "red flag" and will question why you did not list them.

Letters of Recommendation are NOT substitutes for a list of references. It is not unusual for some employers to have the employee write their own letter of recommendation and the manager simply signs their name at the bottom.

References Pages typically follow the following format.  Example References Pages are available in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.

YOUR NAME
Address
City, State & Zip Code
Telephone Number with (area code)
Email address
 

REFERENCES

Name of Reference
Title
Company
Company Address
Company Telephone Number with (area code)
Email address

Name of Reference
Title
Company
Company Address
Company Telephone Number with (area code)
Email address
 

Name of Reference
Title
Company
Company Address
Company Telephone Number with (area code)
Email address