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How to List References on...

How to List References on Your Resume (With Examples)

7 min read · Updated on March 27, 2024

To include references on your resume or not? That is the question

At some point in your job search, an employer, recruiter, or HR professional is likely to ask you for a list of resume references. Many people will include a list of references right on their resume, or at least allude to the fact that references are available. The big question is… should you do either of these things?

If you're at the point of your job search where you need to know how to list references on your resume (or whether you should include them at all), you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll cover the following topics:

Whether you're supposed to put references on a resume

Why you should (or shouldn't) include resume references

Where your references belong – and how to write them up

Who qualifies as a good resume reference

Let's get started!

Are you supposed to put references on a resume?

No, you are not supposed to put references on a resume

Instead, focus on providing the details that will convince a recruiter or hiring manager to contact you for an interview. Remember, your cover letter and resume are designed to get you the interview. The details you highlight on the resume during the job search should support this goal.

While it varies from company to company, most employers won't ask for your resume references until they're ready to reach out to them. This typically doesn't happen until you've made it through the initial interview rounds and are among the final candidates for a job. If, for any reason, an employer wants your references earlier in the process, rest assured they'll give you a chance to provide them. There's no need to place references on your resume when they won't be used until you're one of the final candidates.

That said, you should brainstorm a list of potential resume references as soon as you start submitting job applications, so you're ready when a prospective employer has specifically requested your professional references.

Why not include references on a resume?

Including references on a resume is simply a waste of space

Resume real estate is valuable and, as you know, when it comes to writing your resume, you only get so many pages to work with. Don't waste that space by putting a resume references section or adding the phrase “References available upon request.”

Many employers usually won't ask for this information until you're further along in the interview process - and they know you'll provide references if they request them. Additionally, adding references to your resume can cause your application to get hung up in the applicant tracking system, or ATS , the software the company uses to manage candidates.

ATS can be programmed to automatically email references when they're found in the scanning process. If your reference doesn't respond to the automated message sent out by the ATS, your application could get caught in a pending status.

Where do you put references, if not on a resume?

Rather than putting references on your resume, type them up on a separate document

On a separate reference page, include the person's first name and last name, current job title and company name, email address, and phone number. Be sure to check with each of your professional references ahead of time, to confirm that the person is willing to be your reference and to verify which phone number and email address they'd like you to share with employers.

It's also helpful to add a line that explains to the reader how you've come to know this reference. For example,

It could be as simple as mentioning that you “worked together in Company XYZ's marketing department from July 2015 to November 2017,” or

That your professional reference was your “direct supervisor at ABC Institute between 2018 and 2019.”

You don't have to write a paragraph explaining your relationship to a reference, but it's nice to provide the employer or hiring manager with a little context.

When you type up your best resume references, consider using the same header information and font style that was used for your resume, so that the documents appear to be part of one overall package - even if they're not attached to one another.

Resume references example: how to write your references

For example, if we were writing up resume references to accompany Alexa Campbell's resume , they might look something like this:

An example of how to list professional references on your resume. The example shows references from throughout a professional's career history. Each reference includes the person's name, current title, cell phone number, email, and a note on the relationship.

Who should you ask to be a reference?

When choosing your professional references, select three to five people who have insight into your hard and soft skills and who you trust to say good things about you and your job performance.

A good rule of thumb is to have at least three professional references – five if you're applying for an executive position.

EXPERT TIP: If you opt to have more than three to five professional references, then the extras can be personal references.

As you approach each person you want to have as a reference, give them an idea of the position you're applying for and how your skills match the role. This will help them know what to say when they're contacted.

For the professional references

Try to find professional references who know about your skills and can talk about your career achievements in a way that aligns with what the job wants. Most of the time, your professional references will be talking about your hard skills – the things you know how to do from education and experience.

Professional resume references examples include:

Former supervisors or managers

A leader at a place you volunteer

For the personal references

It is okay to have personal references, but you should never provide personal references INSTEAD OF professional references. Always, always give professional references first and then personal ones. You'd list the same details about your personal references as you do the professional references – Name, Title (who they are to you), phone, and email. Adding a couple of personal references can help boost your candidacy, as these folks will probably talk a lot about your soft skills , which employers value.

Personal resume references examples include (note that not a single personal reference in the following list is a relative – your mom and grandma should not appear on your reference list!):

Academic Advisors

Sports Coach

Members of your network

Maximize resume space to improve job search impact

Having a good set of resume references to lean on while you search for a job is great, as they can help you get from interview to job offer. However, because of the limited space on your resume, you should create a separate document that contains just your references.

Remember, the goal of your resume is to get an interview. Before you sit down to speak with the hiring manager or recruiter, your references aren't going to help you. As such, you should aim to include only those details on your resume that will win an interview.

When it's time to give your references to a hiring manager, make sure that you have a carefully curated list of contacts that can confidently speak to your abilities and how your skills match up with what the company is hiring for.

Is your resume not getting results? Request a free review to find out how your resume is falling short .

This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine and has been updated by Marsha Hebert.

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How to List References on a Resume in 2024 (with Examples & Tips)

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about including references on a resume, from how to format them to how to know when they should be included at all.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

Should I Put References on a Resume?

The answer to whether or not to put references on your resume can vary.

The general rule of thumb when is actually to not include references on your resume .

This is because employers are unlikely to reach to references until the interview phase, making the inclusion of them on an initial resume typically unnecessary.

This does not mean that there are never scenarios in which you will need to know how to properly list references.

For specific jobs and in certain situations, you may be asked or required to include a list of references within or alongside your resume.

When you need strong references, it's important to structure them so that they stand out and impress the hiring manager, landing you the pivotal interview.

In this guide, we will be covering the basics of how listing references on your resumes and when to know it’s time to use references.

Plus, we will discuss alternatives to sending references that can help you in situations where sending a reference may be a difficult task.

How to List References on a Resume

When it comes to listing references on a resume, there are two main ways you can go about it:

1) Make a Dedicated Reference Section

Making a dedicated reference section involves making the space on your existing resume to include a short section with information on your references.

2) Create a Separate Reference Page (recommended)

More often than not, job applicants who have chosen to include references on their resume will do so on an entirely separate page to be included with the resume.

The second option of listing your references on a separate page is actually the preferred and recommended method.

This is because references are not generally expected to be included on an initial resume and can take up unnecessary space that may be off-putting to hiring managers.

Comparatively, a separate page of references gives the hiring manager the opportunity to look more closely at the information in the resume without becoming visually disoriented by too many sections.

Hint: Not sure how to list other sections of your resume? Check out our Resume Guides to learn more about how to craft each section of your resume.

When to Put References on a Resume

So, if it is typically not expected to have references included on an initial resume, when is the best time to include references on a resume?

Creating a reference section or page can be necessary depending on a number of situations, including:

If the employer has specifically requested for references to be included in the job description
If you have progressed further down the hiring process and have been asked to provide references before or after an interview
If you are applying to governmental or institutional position, such as a federal job, that will require strong references and a background check

Quick Tip: If you have impressive references, such as a company CEO or another recognizable figure, be sure to make these the most noticeable references and the first ones you list in your reference section.

Overall, the golden rule is to wait to provide references until they are requested.

Examples of References on Resumes

Let’s take a look at a few examples of references on resumes to learn more about common mistakes made when crafting a reference and how to correct them.

It is highly important to include the necessary information to contact a reference – just a name and company is not enough. You should always include at least an official business number and an official business email in your references.

John Doe CEO of Doe Corporation 123 Avenue Way, New York, NY

John Doe CEO of Doe Corporation 123 Avenue Way (123) 456-9890 [email protected]

Always be specific when including the reference’s job position or title.

Don’t just list the name of the company without the exact job title to go along with it.

If you are unsure of a reference’s job title, ask them before submitting your references to an employer.

Jane Smith Works for corporate at Best Buy 42 Wallaby Way (123) 456-7890 [email protected]

Jane Smith Head of Marketing and Sales Best Buy 42 Wallaby Way (123) 456-7890 [email protected]

‍ How to Format a References Section on a Resume

Formatting a reference section will ultimately depend on if it is being created within a larger resume or separately on a different page.

For on-resume reference sections, it is important to keep them as short as possible, potentially even excluding some of the basic information.

If you are including references directly on a resume, you will likely only want to include one or two of your most relevant and impressive ones in order to not take up too much space.

When making a separate page for references, you can simply stack them as you would jobs in a work experience section , placing emphasis on relevance in how the references are ordered.

The Basic Reference Format:

First and Last name
Position or Title (i.e. CEO, professor of law, etc.)
Company or University of Employment
Company or University Address ( not personal addresses)
Company or University Phone number
Company or University Email Address

It is important when writing out your references that you do not include personal information about the reference, such as a personal cellphone number or email, without their explicit permission.

It is best to just air on the side of caution and only include official and public contact information.

There is, of course, optional additional information you may want or choose to include within a reference.

This can include:

Your relationship to the reference
The length of time you worked with this reference
Examples of experiences or projects that you and a reference shared work on that they can provide greater detail about

As for formatting the rest of your resume, don’t forget to check out our other guides in this series including How to Write the Perfect Resume and How to Choose the Correct Resume Format !

What Not to Include in a Reference on a Resume

We have already covered the basics of what to include and how to format a basic reference – but what kind of information should be excluded from a reference on a resume.

Here is a quick breakdown of what kinds of information should be excluded from a reference:

Any personal information
Lengthy descriptions of your relationship to the reference
Personal anecdotes or other non-essential information
Too many references from the same company or employer

You ultimately want to provide concise references that are easy to ready quickly and clearly show why that person has been included as a reference.

Take a look at these two examples on correcting reference errors:

When including additional information, keep it to one line or less of the most relevant information.

Additionally, keep additional specific and don’t use vague wording such as “several years.”

Incorrect :

Jack Frost CEO of Frost Inc. 21 East Avenue (123) 456-7890 [email protected] I worked closely with Jack for a number of years and learned a lot from him that contributed to my skills today.

Jack Frost CEO of Frost Inc. 21 East Avenue (123) 456-7890 [email protected] I worked as Mr. Frost’s personal and administrative assistant for 8 years.

When making your list of references you plan of including, it is important to not include too many from the same company.

You should only really include two references from the same company if each reference witnessed different skills or accomplishments of yours that the other did not.

You worked at a corporate company in the communications department as a copywriter, and you have worked with both junior and senior level copywriters who you have included as references.

You include only the senior copywriter as a reference, as they can better attest to your skills and their position is more impressive and relevant to the job you are seeking.

How Many References to Add to a Resume

Assuming you are using a separate, dedicated references page, the ideal number of references to aim for is between 3 to 4.

In some cases, you may include up to 5 to 6 references, though generally you should limit yourself to a lower number unless specifically requested to do otherwise.

When selecting your 3 to 4 references, it is important to keep a few factors in mind:

Which references hold the highest prestige in their positions, making their inclusion on a references page notable?
Which references can provide the most relevant information about your work ethic and skills for the job you are currently applying for?
Which references do you have the strongest relationships with who will go above and beyond to recommend you to a hiring manager?

Who to Ask for References

As you are creating your list of potential references to contact, there are a number of different types of people you can consider including.

It is important to keep in consideration how a reference can relate back to the job you are applying for, and whether their testimony of your work ethic and skills will be relevant enough for the desired position.

Here are some common examples of who to include as references:

Former employer or manager
Supervisor or low-level management
Coworker, colleague, or team member
College professor
Internship supervisor
Community member (typically used when a job applicant has limited references but has connections within the community who can validate their experience and skills)
Business partners (this can be anyone you worked on a project with or shared a similar business experience with)

How to Ask for a Reference

Asking for professional references can be a bit nerve-wrecking, especially if your references are busy people.

The key to asking for references is to be polite and concise in your request. A direct phone call is preferred for asking for references, but a quick email can work in a pinch as well.

When asking someone to serve as a reference for you, it is important to be considerate of their potentially busy schedule and give them a good time frame for when to expect a call or email.

This is another reason why it is important to wait to provide references until requested, as it will give you a narrower window of time to give to your references of when they will need to be on the lookout a hiring manager to contact them.

Quick Tip: When you call or email to ask for a reference, this is a great time to confirm that the information you have is correct (such as their specific title and business phone number).

Can People You Have a Personal Relationship with Be a Reference?

It is generally advised against to include references that have a strong personal relationship with you outside of work (such as a significant other, parent, or sibling) as this can result in a biased recommendation from the reference.

However, exceptions can be made in certain instances, such as if you worked within a family-owned business or if the reference worked directly with you for a long period of time.

In general, however, try to avoid including references that are too personally related to you.

Alternative Methods for Sending References

If you are a new graduate or are returning to the workforce after some time away, you may not have many recent professional references to include in a resume.

For recent grads, including one or two professors can be acceptable, but you will likely still need other references.

Here are some examples of alternative references when you lack strong professional ones:

Volunteers you have worked with
Professors or teachers who have recently taught you
Community members such as church pastors or mentors who can attest to your character

Final Takeaways

Ultimately, the key to doing references right is to wait to provide them until they are requested by a hiring manager or potential employers.

Once references have been requested, remember the following five takeaways that are key for rocking your reference section:

Create a separate and dedicated references page to go along with your resume
Provide all the necessary official contact information
Avoid including personal information of the reference’s
Avoid including references who share too personal of a connection to you
Include the most relevant or impressive references at the top of the page

To learn more about all the elements of creating a great resume, check out our beautiful resume template designs and resume examples for inspiration!

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How to List References on a Resume [w/ Examples]

You’ve applied for an office position. You can’t wait to get an interview with the HR department.

Everything seems good to go, but now, the HR asked you for a list of your references.

So, how do you do this?

Are you supposed to attach it to your resume? Who do you include in your resume references? Is there a custom format style?

Well, kick back and relax because we’re here to help answer all your uncertainties!

Read on to learn everything you need to know about listing references on a resume.

Whether you should or shouldn’t put a reference sheet on your resume.
How to properly list references on a resume (with pro-tips).
The best way to format a “References” section.
Helpful resume references examples.

Should You Include References on a Resume?

The general common practice that the majority of resume experts agree on is that you should NOT add a list of references to your resume .

Because, generally, the HR department doesn’t have time to go through every candidate’s list of references. They have a lot more important things to do than reach out to all the references every single candidate ever provided.

That’s why references aren’t requested until after your interview has gone well or right before you are hired.

But here’s the thing:

That’s not an unshakable no.

If the job description explicitly states that you should include references on your resume, without question, include one!

This is very straightforward on its own, you’ll know when you see it.

Some consulting firms, for example, tend to ask for testimonials on your performance from previous employers before they hire you.

In this case, it's best if you do include the contact information of the people providing you with their positive feedback, so the HR can check how legitimate they are.

Bottom line:

Every word on your resume should be full of value and quality. References add unnecessary space. Insert them only when required or if you’re asked to submit testimonials.

Want to save time? Get your resume done in under 5 minutes, with our resume builder . Quick and simple, ready-made templates that will do all the work for you.

How to List References on a Resume [+ Example]

Now, let’s say you’re requested to provide a list of references.

What’s the best way to display it?

Reference's First Name & Last Name - Tim Borden
Professional Position / Title - Marketing Coordinator
Name of the Reference's Company - Zen Corporation
Business Address - Blaine Ave
City, State, Zip of Company - Atlantic City, NJ, 07030
Phone Number of Reference - (600) 753 9216
Email Address of Reference - [email protected]

It’s best to stay ahead of the game.

Keeping a list of possible references is something that should be done in advance, even when you’re not looking for a job.

When you’re searching for a new position, you want to have a list of several names to contact.

You wouldn’t want to struggle coming up with good fits on short notice, would you?

Here are some more tips to keep in mind:

You should always start your list with your biggest fan first : your most important and impressive reference.

And no, this shouldn’t be your mom. Instead, you’d want your previous boss to vouch for you.

Busy employers may not contact all of your references, but they will likely start at the top of the list. Glowing recommendations shouldn’t be left last!

What’s more, it’s important to clarify your relationship .

It’s crucial to include what your working relationship to the reference is and how long you’ve known them for.

But do not overshare . Don’t add more than the items we mentioned on the list unless required.

And never include the personal mail addresses of your references for two reasons:

They will surely not be contacted via snail mail.

And they might not want all of their personal information shared.

Last, but not least:

Choose your references appropriately.

Always choose the best references for the specific job under consideration.

Let’s say you want to assert your marketing skills. In this situation, you could seek references from a former boss who can attest to that. Somebody like the Head of Marketing or Chief Marketing Officer .

How to Format a Resume References Section

Learning how to arrange a reference section is just as vital as other sections of your resume or cover letter.

A messy, carelessly formatted reference page will lose your employer's interest.

So how do you write one that’s eye-catching and professional?

First, put your references on a separate sheet . Add an exclusive reference page, as the last page of your resume.

Keep the same format for your reference sheet as your resume and cover letter, meaning use the same font, margins, and color scheme.

Start off at the very top with your name, address, and phone number. You should place this information on that side of the page that fits the look of your cover letter and resume. (left, right or in the middle).
Next, write the date. Then start with your employer's information in this specific order: name, job position, company name, and company address.
Finally, follow up with a preferred title/subtitle: name the section References or Professional References .

If you’ve included personal references as well, you could also add “Personal References” as a subtitle.

Use the formatting we discussed in the previous section to list your references.

Ditch the common “References available upon request”.

This is a frequent mistake. Employers formerly know this and it’s an overworked phrase. The general rule of thumb is to keep your resume as brief as possible. Why misuse the space?

How Many References Should You Include in Your Resume?

Though there really isn’t a written rule anywhere about how many references you should include, the most fitting number would be three to five .

Based on your career level though, there is a general division of two groups:

Regular and/or first-time job seekers , should usually provide 3 to 4.

Whereas people applying for senior roles should include a longer list: about 5 to 7 references.

In that case, it’s sufficient to list one reference for all the different points in your professional record.

Who is a Good Reference For Your Resume?

It’s important that all the references in your resume are all deliberately selected individuals .

Everyone’s aunt thinks that they are special, but what does your previous manager think about your work ethic?

To figure out who’s a good reference for you, you should take personal experience into consideration: that means what stage in your career you’re currently in.

Because you’d list different people at different points in your career.

If you are a student or recent graduate with little to no work practice, you would want to get references from:

Guidance tutors or counselors
Course teachers and professors

Any of these people can speak positively about your best skills, qualities, and experiences.

When you have some professional background, however, even at an entry-level position , you have more variety in selecting a good reference.

You could use former colleagues or managers as well as project , master , doctorate supervisors from your most current studies.

If you are a professional candidate , this process becomes simpler as your preferred references will be more acquainted with giving and requesting references.

If you don’t have a lot of professional references to count on, you can reach out to just about anyone that can provide you with a valuable character reference.
If a friend works in the company you are applying to, you could also use them as a reference.

Other important things you should consider:

Ask for permission and say thank you. Fill in your references before handing over their contact information to an eventual employer. It’s solely common courtesy. Send them a copy of your resume as well, so that both of you are in harmony for when the manager calls. Don’t forget to be grateful either. If you get the job, take them out on lunch to properly say thank you. Follow up, a little acknowledgment can go a long way!
DO NOT use family members. This is unconventional and discouraged. The people you use as references should be unrelated to you, in a familial sense. Of course, our mothers have countless nice things to say about us, but their opinion isn’t relevant on a resume. It might also appear as though you don’t have enough people to vouch for you.
Avoid people you’ve confronted. Be careful in not adding individuals you are or have once been in professional conflict with. You can never be too sure if they’re still holding a grudge against you. Play it safe.
Make sure they are comfortable. Especially if they’re a person you are currently still working with, confirm they are okay with you searching for a new job. If you’re trying to keep it a secret from your employer though, it’s best not to ask a current coworker at all. You can never know for certain how ethical or pleased with your success one is.

In the end, the basic point of a reference is for the employers to get a true reflection of your work ethics, background, character, and personality.

Find people who can properly display all of the above for you.

3+ Good & Bad Resume Reference Sheet Examples

So many rules!

But don’t worry - we have some great examples for you to help put them into practice:

GOOD EXAMPLE:

MY BEST AND FAVORITE REFERENCE - inappropriate title

Martha Payne - a family member as a reference

2809 Candlelight Drive - including home address

870-294-1238 - wrong listing order, the reference phone number should be second to last

Nursing Assistant - unrelated to your industry or position

Newlife Hospital

4164 Fittro Street

Lurton, AR, 72848

[email protected]

Martha is my auntie. She’s not only a well-respected member of the community but a remarkable nurse. She was the one who raised me and I consider her my mother. She knows me better than anybody else and I couldn’t have chosen a better person to speak of my character. - prolonged and unprofessional description

References available upon request - overused unnecessary phrase

providing them only one reference

Key Takeaways

Here’s a recap of what we learned in this post:

References ARE NOT supposed to be on your resume. So when in doubt, DON’T include a list to your resume.
On rare occasions though, references may be added on a resume. If you decide to do so, put your list on a separate sheet. Don’t forget to match it to the style of your cover letter and resume.
Be intelligent with your reference choices. Your number of references should correspond to your career stage. Put your most glowing references on the top. Selected those who are closest to your line of work. Avoid people you’ve ever had professional conflicts with.
Be diplomatic. Always ask for permission before listing them as references. Email them a copy so that you’re both on the same page. Don’t forget to thank them afterward.
Use the correct formatting. List your references precisely as we showed you in this guide. There’s a definite, proper way to arrange entries and the structure of the page itself - don’t contradict it. Use the examples we gave you as a guide.

How To List Your Resume References [With Formatting Examples]

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“Hi there! This is Jennifer calling from Google. The team absolutely loved you and we'd like to move forward by contacting your resume references. Can you please send them along?”

SCORE! You finally made it, all that work is about to pay off.

You crafted the perfect resume and cover letter . You prepared for and absolutely crushed your interviews . You're SO close you can taste it!

There's only one thing left between you and that sweet, sweet offer — a reference check.

If you're thinking “this is in the bag,” you may want to slow your roll.

While your resume references are usually a formality, choosing the wrong people or presenting them the wrong way can throw up a red flag right as you're about to cross the finish line.

The good news is that if you follow a few simple rules and plan ahead, you'll knock this out of the park and be signing your offer letter in no time.

This post is going to cover everything you need to know about resume references, including:

Why resume references can make or break your chances of getting a job offer
Where to put your references (should they even be on your resume?)
The best way to list and format your references in 2020
What types of people make great references (and how to ask them)
10+ examples of awesome resume reference examples you can steal

You may be asking, who is this guy and why is he qualified to talk about this?

I spent two years making the jump from health care into technology, eventually landing offers at Google, Microsoft, & Twitter. All of those companies asked for my references and I used the exact methods I'm about to share with you to seal the deal with all three.

Now I want to share that info with you so you can replicate those results!

What Are Resume References And Why Are They Important?

A resume reference list is essentially a selection of people who can vouch for your professional skills and confirm that you’re an awesome employee this company should be excited about.

References usually come into play just before the company extends an offer. The team loved you in the interview and they just want to confirm that what you said lines up with other people you've worked with.

When it comes to actually checking, there's a pretty broad range.

Some companies don't bother checking references at all, while some might ask you to provide 5 or more.

You'd rather be fully prepared and burn a few extra minutes for nothing rather than be stuck scrambling to find an ex-colleague with a 24 hour turnaround time!

Should You Put Your References On Your Resume?

Nope! Your references should never show up your actual resume, here's why:

First, resume space is precious.

You just spent hours editing your resume and squeezing it down to a single page. You really don’t want to be wasting valuable space on your carefully edited resume by adding reference details.

On top of that, the company doesn’t need or want your references when you submit your resume. They're still trying to decide if you're even qualified to do the job!

A value driven resume bullet about a project you led is going to be way more effective than giving out your old boss's digits.

Plus, think about where you're submitting your resume. If you're sharing it on LinkedIn, on job boards like Indeed or Angel.co, you're putting up a billboard with people's information for everyone to see!

Your references may have your back now, but that might change if they start getting calls from Nigerian royalty who want to share their fortunes.

“Ok, so should I at least put a line that says ‘References available upon request'?”

Nope! It’s fully expected that you’ll provide references if the company requests them. Again, focus on selling yourself and your experience on your resume. We'll take care of your references in a new doc called your Reference Sheet.

You're going to want to fire up a new Google Doc for your references, but the key here is to make sure you're staying consistent with your resume.

This means that you want to keep the same color scheme, structure, font, and general format on both documents:

Example of a resume and resume references sheet with matching formats and colors

You want to make sure that your reference sheet includes:

Your full name
Email address
Phone number
Link to your LinkedIn profile

You never know who this is going to be passed around to, so you want to make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to know what candidate these references belong to.

Remember, your goal is to stand out — and paying attention to details on your reference sheet is a surefire way to make that happen.

How To List Your References On A Resume

Should be easy, right? We're just adding some names and contact info here…right?

Not so fast.

If you want to win more job offers, you need to capitalize on every opportunity to add value and control the process.

This means paying attention to detail and creating those opportunities through every step of the process. Listing your references is no different.

How To List And Format Your Resume References

Sure, we're going to drop in some contact information, but we're also going to leverage a tactic to help steer the conversation towards a specific project or result that we want the employer to know and your reference to talk about.

You want to make sure your reference format includes (in order):

Company/Organization
Phone Number
Email Address
Relationship + Relevant Context

It should look a little something like this:

Example of how to list resume references on your resume

Now, you probably knew about the contact info stuff, but most job seekers miss out on the relevant context piece.

When listing your references, you want to provide a specific detail about a project/initiative you worked on and the results it drove.

Results = value, and value is what gets you hired.

This starts when you reach out to a potential reference. I have instructions and an email template you can use to ask people to be your reference below. When they agree, hop on the phone with them and walk through the game plan:

“Hey Jennifer, thank you so much for offering to be a reference. I really appreciate it! This is for an operations role and the company is focused on increasing productivity/efficiency. It would be great if you could talk them through the Axion project we worked on together where we reduced redundancies by 37% in 6 months!”

Guess what happens next? Your reference starts singing your praises and discussing how amazing that Axion project was and what a great job you did to drive those results.

That’s way better than a typical response like this:

“Uhh yea, I worked with Austin for a couple of years. We were on the same team, he's a nice guy and seems to do good work. Yea, sure, I'd recommend him.”

That showcases zero personality and doesn't do anything to boost your credibility. We want to avoid that at all costs!

Finally, you always want to make sure to lead with your best reference. The person who has the most to say should always be at the top of your list.

How Many Resume References Should You Have?

Most of the time, your interviewer/recruiter will tell you how many references you should provide. If that's the case, you're good!

If not, you can always ask to get a number from them. That will most likely be a range and it could be vague like, “we'd love to talk to a few people who you've worked with.”

If they’re not super clear, it's up to you to decide!

My best recommendation is five people if you can swing it. Five references gives the employer choices while also illustrating that you have a solid range of people who you believe will stand up for you.

That said, not everyone has five references to put on their resume. If we're talking minimums, you need to have at least three references to share. We're about to chat through the types of people that make great references, so if you don't think you can make it to three, stick with me!

Finally, a major exception here is for senior roles. If you're going for C-Level or VP level roles, you'll probably want to provide a more robust set of references. Seven is a good ballpark here.

Everybody else can stick with five!

What Types Of People Make Good References?

woman writing down her resume references

There are a couple of basic questions to ask yourself when considering who to add to your resume references list:

Who would be the best reference for this particular job?
Who do I know that works in this industry?
Who understands the exact skills I have that apply to this position?
Who do I know with the most impressive job title?
Who do I know at big-name companies?
Who am I okay with knowing I’m looking for a new job? (Hint: Probably not your current boss)
Who might my potential employer know and respect?

Think about it from the employer’s perspective — everyone wants to hire top talent.

The employer is using your references to validate your story and hear that same story from a 3rd party. In other words, they want to know that you are who you say you are.

They also want to know that your previous employers (and colleagues) liked you. Were you an over achiever? Did your team love you? Were you an awesome cultural fit?

Your potential employer cares about all of those things and the best way to find out is by asking.

If you can’t provide proof that folks enjoyed spending time with you, that you got your stuff done, and that you were a valuable asset, that's going to throw up some major red flags.

You've made it this far! We don't want that to happen.

Who Makes The Best References?

That said, your references don't just have to be former managers or colleagues. There are so many people we can pull from, here are few examples:

Former managers
Former colleagues (on your team and other teams as well!)
People you volunteer with
Friends & family friends
Professors/teachers
Mentees or students

You definitely want to prioritize people who have worked with you in a professional sense, but you can also get a glowing endorsement from people who see you in other aspects of your life. Those can be just as valuable.

It's also important to note that your references don’t need to all be of a “higher rank” than you. If you managed an intern, if you mentor someone, or if you teach in some capacity, you could absolutely have your intern/mentee/student vouch for you.

If you're in a management role, your best bet may be a direct report who can speak to your abilities as a manager!

Once you have your basic list down, try to think about who you know that is doing well for themselves, and whose job might lend a little credibility to your reference list. Especially consider people who are working in the same field as your prospective employer.

Definitely prioritize people who work in the same industry and major bonus points if they work for a potential client or partner — that's always a huge plus!

To recap on great reference options, you want to prioritize like this:

People who have amazing things to say about you
People who have worked with you professionally
People whose position may add some extra credibility to your list

The first is a must, the second two are nice if you can get em.

How To Ask Someone To Be A Reference For You

man asking someone to be his reference for a new job

Please, please, PLEASE don't be the person who just writes down a few people's names and never tells them.

Even if “you know they'd be fine with it,” they will be totally unprepared to get that call and a flustered reference is a bad reference.

You're giving them no time to prepare, to get their story straight, to think about how to pitch you. You know who that ends up hurting?

On top of giving you a better shot of landing the role, asking people ahead of time is just the polite thing to do.

It also gives you a chance to verify their contact info, current job title, etc. so you can make sure your potential employer gets in touch with them the first time.

The good news is, it's super easy to make the ask. All you have to do is write a quick email asking that person to be a reference for you. Here’s an example of the exact email template that I used to reach out to people:

Resume References Permission Email Template Hi [Reference Name] , Hope you're having an awesome week! I'm reaching out because I'm in the final stages of the interview process for a [Job Title] role and I wanted to be prepared with some references. I really enjoyed the work we did on the [Project Name] and I would be super grateful if you would be up to speak with the hiring manager about the work we did there. If you're up for it, let me know! If not, that's totally fine. Either way, have an awesome rest of the week! Best, [Your Name]

Now hit Send!

Even if someone isn't up to be your reference, they'll probably still be flattered that you asked and it's a great way to reconnect.

Once you fire off a few of these and get responses, you’ll have a reference list ready to go!

How To Format Your Resume References

We already touched on formatting a little bit before, but I’ll just rehash the basics.

Rule #1: Match Your Resume & Reference Sheet Styles

Before you begin adding your references, you want to make sure your reference sheet matches the same style and format of your resume .

This means using the same colors, the same font, and the same general layout. If you scroll back near the top of this post, you can see an example of how I did this with an example resume and reference sheet.

Rule #2: Add Your Contact Info At The Very Top

Just like you did on your resume, you want to include your contact info at the very top. This includes:

Your Full Name
Links to any personal websites or portfolios

We want to make it as easy as possible for the recruiter or hiring manager to know which candidate is in front of them and how to get in touch.

Rule #3: Formatting Your Resume References

Alright, down to business! When it comes to each reference, there's a specific format you should follow.

First, you should list out the info for each reference in this order:

Full name of your reference
Current company/organization
Your relationship + relevant context

I personally like to spice things up with the font . I'll use a heavy font weight for the name and maybe even bump the size up a notch.

Then I'll go with the standard weight for everything in the middle, and close out with an unbolded, light weight version of the font to describe the relationship and the context. Again, you can see this in action in the example I shared earlier in the post.

I would also make sure to find a way to differentiate between references. It may sound obvious, but using numbers before names, or adding an extra line break in between references will make it clear where one reference ends and the other begins.

Finally, make sure you proofread your resume references list before you send it to anyone. Using free tools like Grammarly will ensure you never accidentally send your list off with a spelling mistake or a grammatical error you'll be kicking yourself over.

Examples Of Resume References

Awesome! At this point, you should have a few amazing people in mind to list on your reference sheet.

You know the general rules of formatting, but we want to be absolutely sure that you get this right. Remember, that offer is so close you can taste it! Let's not screw things up now.

To help you get an idea of what to do (and what not to do), I'm going to share a few examples of bad resume references and good resume references:

Example #1:

Bad resume references (don’t use this).

What's wrong with this picture? A lot!

First, how is anyone supposed to know who this reference sheet belongs to? Was it Jenny that interviewed on Wednesday? Tom who came in yesterday? Who knows?

Without any contact information or details about you, your hiring manager is shooting in the dark. That's not great.

On top of that, there's a lot missing from the references themselves.

First, the formatting is entirely the same. It's just a block of text with no real way to easily identify roles, relationships, contact info, etc.

Speaking of info, where's the detail? There are no phone numbers (the primary way people will contact your references). There are no job titles and there is zero context about the relationship beyond “former manager.” Also bad.

Here’s another example of some terrible resume references:

Example #2:

Bad resume references (don’t use this either).

Example of bad format or references on resume

This one looks better, but we've still got some issues.

First, the prioritization is all wacky. This person is leading off with a friend while their current colleague is buried down at the bottom. That's not a great look.

What if they only decide to contact the top three references? They'd get a friend, a teacher, and someone who managed this person when they were an intern. That's not gonna work.

Next, there's little to no context here. What company is Luke Walker a colleague at? Is it a current company? A former company?

What projects did you work on with these people or how did they impact you?

There's nothing to clarify why this person listed them, which leaves the whole conversation up to the person making the call. That can lead to a seriously awkward conversation or, at best, one where they really need to dig to get the info they want.

Your goal is to make it easy for the person calling!

Example #3:

A great example of how you should list your references (definitely do this).

Example of a Great Resume Reference Sheet

Boom! Look how awesome that is.

We've got our full name and all of our contact info right at the top. The reader immediately knows who we are, they can look us up if they need to, and our email/phone is available for any questions or feedback.

Our references are all broken out in a clear and clean fashion. Each person's title, company, and contact info are readily available and we've taken the opportunity to “drive” the conversation here with a few lines of context at the bottom. Note that we defined the relationship at the beginning of that context.

If you're not differentiating yourself at every step of the job search process, you're getting lost in a sea of applicants. Plus, all this extra detail will help you (and your references) build a rapport with your employer.

The example above shows the exact level of detail you need to add to your resume references list. If you use that as a guide and format your own reference sheet in a similar fashion, you'll be ready to go!

All you need to do now is find your people, shoot them a note asking if they'll vouch for you, and get your references sheet set up. You'll want to have it ready to go at that next interview!

Salary Negotiation: Preparing For The Final Offer

What's the last step in the interview process? The final offer letter. If you've made it this far, congratulations! You'll want to be prepared ahead of time by checking out my article on how to negotiate your salary during an interview.

I'll show you 3 simple negotiation tips that you can use to double your offer! While finding the courage to speak up about your salary and negotiating what you’re worth can be tough, it’s an absolute must. If you’re not negotiating your salary properly, you’re leaving tons of money on the table. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get paid what you're really worth!

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Austin Belcak

Austin is the founder of Cultivated Culture where he helps people land jobs without connections, without traditional experience, and without applying online. His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, & Fast Company and has helped people just like you land jobs at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter, & more.

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How to Write a Resume Reference List With Examples

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What is a resume reference list?

How to choose resume references, resume reference list template, resume reference list examples.

Few interviewers will ask you to submit resume references as part of the application process, but you can have one prepared and ready to submit when they do request it. Most employers ask for your references after an initial phone screening or onsite interview if they’re considering you for the position. No matter when employers ask for your references, it’s best to have a list prepared that includes at least three reliable contacts who are willing to provide insight on you as an employee or colleague and highlight your best professional attributes. In this article, you can learn what a resume reference list is and how to request references.

A reference list is a document that applicants present along with their resume to an employer that provides the contact information for your professional references. If a company is considering you for a position, the employer will probably contact your references to ask questions about your job performance, reliability, whether former employers would rehire you and other relevant information. The answers will help the employer determine whether or not they want to move ahead in the hiring process with you.

Follow these steps to begin writing your reference list:

1. First, decide how many references to include in your reference list

While some employers may specify the number of references they’d like to see, others will not. In the latter case, think about where you are in your career. If you’re attempting to enter the job market for the first time, three references are enough, but if the role you are applying for is higher up, such as a supervisory or executive role, you can include a larger number of references from different points in your career. Be sure to follow any guidelines the employer gives you during the selection process.

2. Next, choose your best professional contacts to list as references

When deciding on who to include as references, consider former colleagues or supervisors who can validate your skills and qualifications, as well as your reliability and trustworthiness as an employee. Try to list people who are prepared to speak about the talents specific to the job you’re applying for. When deciding who to list as a professional reference, check with them first to ensure that they are willing to be a good reference. Only include people you are comfortable with knowing you are looking for a new job, especially if you currently work with or for them.

The following people tend to be the best references:

Academic advisors
Former employer

3. Then, ask your professional contacts to be your references

As mentioned above, it is important to ask your contacts if they are willing to provide a reference before you submit their names. This is a common courtesy, as many people prefer to keep their contact information as confidential as possible. You also want to make sure they’re comfortable providing a reference for you. Checking with your references also allows time for them to expect a call from the employer and prepare what they want to say about you with examples and specific praises.

4. Last, decide how and when to submit your list of references

As a rule, do not send your reference list with your application unless it is requested on the job posting or the hiring manager requests references along with your resume. Typically, you can wait until the hiring manager requests the list. Knowing that they will ask for your references allows you to feel free to remove ‘references available upon request’ from your resume.

People typically choose to list references in reverse chronological order, beginning with the person they worked with most recently, though some people choose to order the list based on which person knows them best.

Here is one example you can follow to format your resume reference list:

Reference contact information:

Name Title or position Company Company address Reference phone number Reference email address

Description: Include where you worked with this reference, when you worked together and your working relationship.

Lea Martin Sales Director Eagle Crest Advertising, LLC 4747 Main St. Austin, TX 78701 555-555-5555 [email protected]

Lea was my direct supervisor while I worked as a regional sales manager for Eagle Crest Advertising, LLC from 2013 to 2018.

Joann McDonald Professor, Cooley School of Business The University of Texas at Austin 1268 Delaware Avenue Austin, TX 78712 555-555-5555 [email protected]

Dr. McDonald was my professor for several business courses I completed to earn my MBA from the University of Texas, Austin.

Your reference list should include your contact information in the header using the same theme, look and feel as your resume, using the same fonts and matching colors. This allows your list of references and your resume to look more professional and consistent.

When you get hired at your new position, make sure to reach out to thank your contacts for providing references that assisted you in finding a new job. This can be a quick phone call, handwritten note or email. Showing your gratitude to these connections is not only common courtesy, it will ensure that you remain in the good graces of your contacts.

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How to List Resume References: A Job Seeker's Guide + Sample

To include or not include? That is the question. Instead of including references on your resume, though, how about creating a resume reference list you can provide to recruiters upon request instead? Here's how to do it.

[Featured image] Woman in a yellow sweater with glasses looking at a resume

Many experts agree that you probably shouldn't put your references directly on your resume. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have personal references ready in a separate document for when you start your next round of job applications.

In this article, you will learn a better approach to listing references than directly putting them on your resume, how to create an effective reference list, and find a reference list template to help you create your own. At the end, you'll also explore flexible, online courses that can help you craft a stand-out resume in just hours.

Do you put references on a resume?

Generally, you should not put references on your resume.

While it was once common practice to include references on resumes, experts now suggest that you use the extra space for something more valuable, such as work experience or marketable skills. Similarly, you should forgo adding “references available upon request” to your resume as it is seen as largely unnecessary by prospective employers.

The reality is that recruiters and hiring managers rarely have the time to reach out to references during the initial screening phase of the hiring process and will usually only ask for references from applicants that interest them. In effect, the only time you should include your professional references with your resume is when the job description explicitly asks for it.

While you shouldn’t put references on your resume, you should prepare a separate reference list to send potential employers once they have requested them from you. Read more: Should You List References on a Resume?

How to make a separate resume references list

A separate reference list is a smart alternative to adding references directly to your resume.

In addition to being prepared easily in advance to ensure that you have a reference list handy for any potential employers, they can also be unobtrusively added to your resume should a job posting request them.

1. Choose your references and contact them for approval.

The references that you include on your list should be individuals who know you well and will provide positive commentary on your abilities and character.

While the list should ideally focus on professional references from your current or previous places of employment, you can also include former professors or even personal acquaintances. These last two options might be most helpful to students, first-time jobseekers, or those who have been out of the workforce for some time.

Some of the potential references you might consider reaching out to include:

Former or current supervisors

Former or current employers

Former or current co-workers

Former or current professors

Non-family personal acquaintances that can vouch for your character and abilities

Once you have identified those contacts who will provide strong references, you should reach out to them and ask them if they would be willing to be a reference for you. Typically, it is more advisable to ask your contact to be your reference either in person or through a formal email rather than via text message.

If your contact agrees to be your reference, then you should make sure to check what their preferred mode of contact is (email or phone), the times they are generally free to speak, and what their most up-to-date contact information is.

How many references should go on your reference list?

The number of references you are required to put on your reference list will depend on the kind of job you are applying for. As a general rule, most employers typically ask that you send them three references. If you are applying for a more senior position, however, they may ask for more.

You can also always reach out for clarification if you are uncertain. Remember, if an employer is asking you for your references after reviewing your application, then they are likely interested in you and will happily respond to your request for further clarity.

2. Create your reference list.

Once you have a list of approved references, you can now create your reference list. The proper format for each reference should be as follows:

Company name

Contact information (phone number and email address)

Description of relationship to the reference

Your references should also be listed from top to bottom in order of most to least recent. If you find that not all of your references are equally relevant for the specific position, then you might also consider ordering it from most to least relevant.

For example, if you are applying to a position that allows you to employ specific technical knowledge that you gained in graduate school a few years ago, then you might put your former thesis advisor at the top of your reference list and your most recent employer after.

3. Format your reference list.

Now that you have completed your reference list, you should make sure that it is properly formatted and ready to send out.

Your reference sheet should visually reflect the design that you used for your resume and cover letter. Providing a reference list that is consistent with the design of your other material will provide a sense of cohesion and professionalism across your application.

Sample of reference page for resume

The sample below illustrates just one way that a reference list can look. As you are creating your own, remember to make its overall design cohesive with the rest of your resume material. Often, a simpler design is more effective than an elaborate one.

[Sample Resume Reference List] Black text on a white background

Create your own resume reference list using this template .

Get ready for your next job search with Coursera

You can never be too prepared for a new job search. Whether you're a first-time job seeker or an established professional, you might consider taking a cost-effective, online course to help you develop job-relevant skills.

Start learning the skills for a high-demand job like project management or cybersecurity with a Professional Certificate from industry leaders like Google, IBM, or Meta. If you need help with your resume, you might consider taking the State University of New York's project-centered How to Write a Resume course, which will help you craft an eye-catching resume that lets your professional strengths shine in just five hours.

Whatever your next step, though don’t forget to thank your references for taking the time to help you land your next job.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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How to Put References on a Resume? [+Examples]

This is highly unusual. But wait, that doesn’t mean you should never do it. Sometimes “unusual” is good. Very good.

Especially when you want someone to take notice of you.

Anyway, to cut to the chase: references normally don’t belong on a resume . Instead, they’re something that you normally attach to it when requested.

That is, unless you know what you’re doing. This guide should help you with that.

This guide will answer these pressing questions:

When should you put references on a resume?

Who to ask for a reference.

…if you’re a student or fresh graduate?
…if you’re a seasoned professional?
How to ask for a reference?
How to include references on a resume?
Should you put them directly on your resume?
Can LinkedIn’s recommendations make your life easier?
Is there more?

What do references do on a resume?

The references section on your resume contains a list of people who can vouch for you and provide your future employer with more information about your abilities.

These can include your teachers, advisors, coaches, colleagues, employers or your direct supervisors. They know how you used your skills in the past, can confirm any qualifications that you stated on your resume or vouch for your character.

References help your future employer find out how you performed in your previous jobs or throughout your academic career . They can get an idea about your professional attitude and competency before hiring you.

Employers usually only contact your references once they get to the last stage of the hiring process. Or sometimes, in case you’re a freelancer, they may ask you to provide references in advance.

Including references in your resume used to be more common in the past. Sure, it’s good to prepare a list of references in advance, but including it in your resume isn’t always the best course of action.

But in some specific situations, it’s still okay to put them on your resume or together with your application. It’s not customary but certainly acceptable if:

The job listing asks for references from the get-go, you should include them without much hesitation.
Your reference is someone well-known in the company or industry. Sometimes you don’t want to wait until the last round of interviews to play your strongest card.
You’re a fresh graduate. Probably you still don’t have enough experience to fill an entire resume. Moreover, as a student, you have no authority yet. Let others do the bragging for you.
You’re a freelancer. For companies it’s sometimes hard to find a dependable freelancer. Of course, your portfolio is still the most important of your application, but you should always be ready to provide a list of references from your past clients.
There’s an employment gap on your resume . Including references on your resume is an effective way to balance out your work gap.

Expert tip: Always ensure your references are kept in the loop. If you're considering adding their details to your resume, inform them beforehand and make sure they are okay with it. This allows them to prepare for possible calls from potential employers, ensuring that when they do receive a call, they can provide a well-informed, positive reference.

But If none of the above applies to you, don’t do it. It’s neither customary nor expected. There are several reasons for that:

Waste of space. Your one page can be used much more effectively.
Problematic verification. Recruiters don’t have enough time to verify references on every resume they receive. They’ll only check references of the final 2–3 candidates.
Privacy. Your references have agreed to let you give their contact information to a potential employer. Don’t betray their trust by sending their references to just about anyone.

Find out your resume score!

Short answer, anyone respectable who can vouch for your ability and character. As a rule of thumb, try to obtain 3–4 professional references and 1–2 personal references.

Professional references attest your professional ability. Ask your past superiors and partners to put in a good word for you. It goes without saying that you should never ask for a reference someone less experienced than you.

Personal references can vouch for your character. It can be any esteemed person from your personal life: past teachers, non-profit leaders, instructors, etc. Just make sure you don’t include anyone from your family.

But before you even start to contact them, remember that you have to know your references well and be sure that they can give a good feedback.

Think about the people you worked for and worked with . Which of them could speak well of your qualifications, accomplishments and character?

Who to ask for references if you’re a student or a fresh graduate?

Teachers and professors. They can testify to your class participation, performance in your school projects or how well you can work in a team.
Coaches and leaders. They can endorse you for your leadership skills or the ability to work with others.
Contacts from your volunteer work. They can endorse you for your willingness to help the community, motivation and skills. Plus, volunteering is almost always impressive.
Employer from your part-time job or internship. Even if you stayed in your job only a few months, your previous employer can speak best about your work ethic.

Who to ask for references if you’re a seasoned professional?

Past employers. They can vouch for your work skills, overall performance and describe how you interact with colleagues and supervisors.
Direct supervisors. They know you the best and can vouch for you when it comes to your transferable skills and work ethic.
Professional mentors . They have a solid understanding of your personality and receptiveness to training and feedback.

Also, think about the relevancy of your reference. How recent is it? Does it come close to the nature of the job you’re applying for today?

Rrecent references should naturally be your first choice. Using someone you worked with years ago as a reference may look like you’re trying to hide something.

But if an older reference is more relevant to the job you’re applying for now, don’t hesitate to put it on your resume regardless of age.

How to ask for references?

You’ve got your wish list. What to do now?

Call each of these people — or meet them in person if possible — to ask for a permission to be your reference. Using email should be your last resort. It’s far less personal than having a real conversation.

Of course, sometimes you don’t have a choice. If sending your prospective reference an email is the only option, be sure to briefly remind them of who you are. Describe the projects you worked on together and explain where you’re heading with your career.

Also, send them a copy of your resume as an attachment. This will help them recall the times when you were working with them and remind them of your achievements and personality.

Give your potential references enough details about the jobs you’re applying for. Be specific in what skills and qualities you’d like to emphasize. Furthermore, you can even send them the job description. This will help them talk to the employer and endorse your key qualifications.

When it comes to formulating your request, try to be a bit diplomatic. Allow people to refuse gracefully. Here are a few ideas on how to frame your question :

“Would you feel comfortable being my reference in my upcoming job search?”
“Would you find some time in the next few weeks to meet and talk about being my reference during my job hunt?”

If you get a positive reply, you’re almost finished. Take a moment to get your reference’s current titles and contact information right. Also, ask how they’d prefer to be contacted by the recruiter — usually either by phone or email.

Last but not least, don’t forget to express your gratitude at the end of your email. Also, thank your references for taking the time to consider your request and review your application.

Here’s an example of e-mail request that you can use.

Subject: Larry Brown – Reference Request

Dear Mr. Clark,

I am in the process of seeking a new job as a software architect and was hoping you could provide a reference for me.

Having worked for you for 5+ years between 2011 and 2017, I am positive that you can inform prospective employers about my qualifications and experience.

Your endorsement of the job-relevant skills that I attained during my tenure at Company XYZ will be instrumental in boosting my chances to land the job.

I’m attaching an updated copy of my resume and cover letter. Please let me know if there is any additional information you would need to serve as a reference on my behalf.

Thank you very much for taking the time to review my request.

Best regards,

Larry Brown

444-777-5228

[email protected]

How to list references on a resume?

You can either put them directly in your resume or provide them as a separate document attached to your job application.

Either way, you should first determine how many references you want to include. This depends on your career level.

You never know. The hiring manager may only contact one or two, or all references on your list. Just make sure they have plenty options to choose from if one of them is unavailable.

Are you expected to include references directly in your resume?

There are two ways to include your references on a resume. Either provide full details about your references or write the phrase “ References available upon request”.

If you decide to provide full details, consider listing your references in chronological order, starting with the person you worked with most recently.

Here’s what specific information you should include:

Reference name
Reference position
Reference company
Reference address
Reference phone number or email address
Reference description including where you worked together, when you worked together and your working relationship. (optional)

So, in the end, it can look something like this:

Prof. Jeremy Carter, Senior Lecturer MIT, +999 999 999
/Noah Maroon, Wildlife Species Expert, World Wildlife Fund, / [email protected]
Dr. Jenny Randolph, Assistant Research Professor, Paul G. Allen School of Global Animal Health, Washington State University, +123 456 789

If you don’t want to give their contact information right away, you can simply write the phrase References upon request . Then prepare a separate references list that you can provide when requested.

Here’s how it will look like on your resume:

References available upon request

Can LinkedIn make your life easier via recommendations?

A recommendation is a statement that can be written by your former employer, colleague, or business partner and is displayed on your LinkedIn profile. You either have to request it or accept it from someone.

You should always include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your resume. Employers are going to look you up and if they see professional recommendations in your LinkedIn profile, it’s a big plus for you.

They are an online equivalent to resume references . The only difference is that they are online and thus visible to everyone (if you choose so).

And you can ask for them anytime and don’t need to think about whether you should include them in your resume or not. In short, they can make your life a bit easier.

Although, it may not be the same as calling a former employer and asking for opinion, a LinkedIn recommendation is often sufficient. Because of that, LinkedIn recommendations should be given just as much credit as traditional references.

Not only do they add a lot of credibility to your LinkedIn profile, they also help you rank higher in searches.

You should try to get at least one recommendation for each role . Try to ask your direct manager or your colleagues with whom you enjoy working. You can either ask for a recommendation while you are still at the company or upon leaving it.

Be selective about who you will ask. Keep in mind that there are two main factors that matter - content and relevance of the recommendation and the credibility of the writer.

Oh, and you can easily turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume with just one click.

Kick’s two cents worth of resume advice

List only the good references. Ask only those people who can say nice things about you. You don’t want anyone to ruin your job application. Put your biggest fans first. Hiring managers are busy and there’s a chance they’ll only call one person. And they’re likely to start at the top of your list.
Being relevant is the key. If you want your references to really help your case, you must include only those that have something relevant to say. If you need to emphasize your team-work, it makes sense to list your former colleagues who know how you work within a team.

What is the correct format for including references on my resume?

References should be listed at the end of your resume. Include the name of the reference, their professional relationship to you, their job title or position, their phone number, and their email address.

Can I include family members or friends as references?

While family and friends may have a great perspective on your work ethic, employers tend to prefer professional references. This can include previous employers, coworkers, professors, or anyone else who can vouch for your professional abilities.

How many references should I include on my resume?

Traditionally, it is recommended to include between three to five references on your resume. However, this can also depend on the specific request from the potential employer.

Should my references be from the same industry as the job I'm applying for?

It can certainly be beneficial if your references are from the same or related industry as the job you're applying for. This can help give potential employers confidence in your skills and experiences. However, what’s most important is that your references can attest to your work ethic, professionalism, and particular job skills.

What should I do if a potential employer asks for references, but I’m currently employed and don’t want my employer to know I’m job hunting?

In this situation, it's recommended to use other professional references such as former managers, coworkers or other colleagues within your industry. Ensure to inform them beforehand so they are prepared to provide a reference for you.

Nikoleta Kuhejda

A journalist by trade, a writer by fate. Nikoleta went from writing for media outlets to exploring the world of content creation with Kickresume and helping people get closer to the job of their dreams. Her insights and career guides have been published by The Female Lead , College Recruiter , and ISIC, among others. When she’s not writing or (enthusiastically) pestering people with questions, you can find her traveling or sipping on a cup of coffee.

Hungry for more?

How to write a professional resume summary [+examples], how to put your education on a resume [+examples], how to describe your work experience on a resume [+examples], let your resume do the work..

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How to Put References on aResume [Tips & Examples]

How and when to create a resume references page

Are you planning to draft your resume, but not sure if you should mention someone who can help prove you’re qualified for the position?

In other words, should you put references on a resume?

The short answer is, it depends! References are a method for employers to find out how a candidate applying for a vacancy in their business has performed in previous positions or throughout their academic career.

However, adding references may or may not hurt your resume. It really depends on the position and the hiring manager .

This is why it’s important to understand when you should have a references section on your resume.

Luckily, using our AI resume builder can help you add the sections you need based on your circumstances.

To learn when you should add references and how to list references on your resume, keep reading!

Resume References: When to Include or Exclude

For the majority of jobs that you apply to, you will not need to include any references with your resume.

Basically, the only times it is acceptable to include references with the resume in a job application are:

When they are requested directly in the job vacancy description
The job is part of an industry that accepts case studies

If you find yourself in one of these situations, we recommend only including them on a separate piece of paper as a reference page .

If you feel you have a huge lack of relevant experience that will be a problem, and you’d like to include professional references when they are not requested, you can include a line in your cover letter .

Simply mention in your cover letter that your references can be provided upon request.

That way, if you feel like you’re missing experience and a reference can be a huge boost, you may make the hiring manager curious about any prior internships or research.

For those job applications that do not specifically request professional references from the jobseeker, it is not advisable to include them but it is always wise to be prepared!

Who to List as a Reference

If you’re wondering “Who can I use as a reference?”, there are a number of people who can fit the bill .

Depending on whether you are a recent graduate or someone who has worked in a certain field looking for a career change will affect who can be your professional reference.

In general, the types of people who can be a reference , include:

Former employers
Colleagues or coworkers
Clients or customers
College professors
Business contacts

If you plan to submit a student resume ask any of your past tutors, advisors, coaches, and of course teachers or professors who can best vouch for you.

If you’re submitting a professional resume applicant , focus on people who know you best from your workplace and the job you have done.

Who should not be a professional reference?

Using family members or friends as references is highly unconventional and discouraged .

This is simply because they will not be objective in giving their opinions and generally do not know the candidate’s working practices or abilities.

You should also avoid including the following as references:

Former employers who did not like your work
Anyone who hasn’t agreed to be a reference
People with poor communication skills
People with a poor reputation

Whoever you decide to be your reference, remember to give thanks even if they are not contacted in the end. A little appreciation can go a long way.

How to Write a Resume Reference Page

Writing a reference page for your resume is not a complicated task , it is straight-forward and can usually be done from scratch with no problem, if you follow the tips below.

Make sure you include 2-3 people who can cover different positions or multiple people who can vouch for different skills you claim to be able to bring to the role.
Include the references section of your resume on a sheet of A4.
Consider having your references comment on your page in the form of statements made about your work and qualities .
Make sure your references are as tailored to the role and company as possible.

Remember that it is now very easy for companies to check your background and investigate you simply by typing your name into a search engine.

With all the various marvels that the internet offers us and the dozens of social media pages we sign up to, hiring managers can find out a lot about us at the click of a button, so remember to keep these channels professional and creative to serve as references too.

Luckily, you can use AI to quickly improve your LinkedIn profile so that it’s ready for any hiring manager who is interested in you.

To mention a reference, you simply need to include their:

Professional title
Work address
Phone number
Relationship with you

To understand how a reference should look on your resume , you can study the example below:

Susan Reference Former Supervisor ABC Corporation 123 Business Rd. Business City, State, ZIP Phone: (123) 456-7890 Email: [email protected]

Relationship: Susan was my supervisor at ABC Corporation where I worked as a Marketing Analyst from 2016 to 2020.

If a job description asks you to include references, take advantage of our builder and customizable templates to make including the right contacts much easier and start impressing hiring managers !

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

How To Write A Resume
Resume Skills Section
Resume Objective Section
Career Objective Section
Resume Reference Section
Resume Summary Section
Resume Summary Example
Resume Interests Section
Address On Resume
Relevant Work Experience
Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
Education Section On Resume
Contact Information On Resume
Statement Of Qualifications
How To List Publications On Resume
Accomplishments On Resumes
Awards On Resume
Dean's List On Resume
Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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How do I approach a former boss or co-worker for a job reference? Ask HR

When preparing for a job search, it's essential to approach the right people and make your request thoughtful and professional.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society and author of "Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.”

Have a question? Submit it here .

Question: I've been asked for a professional reference in my recent job search. My old references are outdated and don’t relate to my recent roles. How should I ask for a recommendation from a former boss or co-worker? – Naomi

Answer: When asked to provide professional references during your job search, it's essential to approach the right people and make your request thoughtfully and professionally. Here’s how you can effectively ask a former boss or co-worker for a recommendation:

◾ Identify suitable references : Choose individuals who can provide a positive endorsement and speak specifically to your recent roles, skills, work ethic and achievements. This could be a former boss, co-worker, senior leader, or mentor.

◾ Reach out professionally : You can make your request verbally, via email, or through LinkedIn. Use a professional tone and make your request clear and concise.

◾ Craft your request : Be specific about the job you applied for, including the company name and key skills or qualifications the employer seeks. This helps your reference tailor their recommendation to highlight the most relevant aspects of your background.

◾ Express gratitude : Always thank the person for their time, thoughtful consideration and willingness to help. Show appreciation regardless of their response.

◾ Be prepared for other options : Not everyone may be able to provide a reference due to availability or company policies. Have a few different professionals in mind as backups. They could include other former colleagues, mentors, or people you’ve volunteered with.

◾ Provide context : If they agree, give them more details about the role and the types of skills or achievements you’d like them to emphasize. This will help make their reference more relevant and impactful.

◾ Check for errors: Before sending your request, proofread it for any spelling or grammar mistakes to ensure it’s polished and professional.

Following these steps will make it easier for your former boss or co-worker to provide a strong, relevant reference to support your job search. Best of luck in securing your new role!

Employer moving? What recourse do I have if my employer relocates my job? Ask HR

I manage a small team of health and safety inspectors and analysts from varied backgrounds. They sometimes have misunderstandings stemming from their different life experiences. Can I help them get along better and minimize flare-ups at work? – Cyril

Absolutely! While fostering friendships may not be within your control, you can certainly create an environment where your team works together effectively and minimizes conflicts. Here are some strategies to help your diverse team of health and safety inspectors and analysts get along better:

◾ Promote a culture of acceptance and respect: Model and encourage a workplace culture that values acceptance, inclusion and respect. Regularly communicate the importance of these values in team meetings and one-on-one interactions. Acknowledge and celebrate the diversity within your team. This could include recognizing various cultural holidays and events, which can help build mutual respect and understanding.

◾ Provide diversity and inclusion training: Offer training sessions to highlight the benefits of diversity and inclusion. These sessions should focus on understanding and appreciating differences, as well as recognizing unconscious biases. Emphasize commonalities such as shared goals, love for family and mutual professional aspirations, to help team members see beyond their differences.

◾ Encourage active listening : Teach and model active listening skills. Encourage team members to pay full attention when someone is speaking, refrain from interrupting and ask clarifying questions, to ensure they fully understand the speaker’s point of view. Consider workshops or training sessions on effective communication and active listening to reinforce these skills.

◾ Address conflicts promptly and respectfully : When misunderstandings or disputes arise, address them quickly and with respect. Create a safe space for team members to express their concerns, and work together to find solutions. Focus on the issue at hand rather than personalizing disagreements. Encourage a problem-solving mindset that seeks to understand the root cause of conflicts.

◾ Lead by example : Demonstrate the behaviors you want to see in your team. Show respect, actively listen and appreciate each team member's unique perspective. Provide consistent feedback and recognition for positive interactions and collaborative efforts within the team.

◾ Facilitate team-building activities : Organize team-building exercises to promote collaboration and understanding. These activities can help break down barriers and build trust among team members. Consider activities that highlight each team member’s strengths and unique contributions, fostering appreciation and teamwork.

Any team of people brought together is bound to have differences based on their backgrounds and preferences. The key to bringing them together is understanding and respecting those differences and acknowledging common perspectives and identities. We can’t assume people will always get along. Instead, we must facilitate civility among one another and create pathways to prevent and resolve disputes.

By implementing these strategies, you can help team members from varied backgrounds work together more harmoniously and effectively. Creating an inclusive and respectful work environment will minimize conflicts and enhance overall team productivity and job satisfaction.

Full disclosure: Should I tell my current employer I am looking for a new job? Ask HR

IMAGES

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How to Write a Resume Reference List (With Examples)
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When and how to include references on a resume · Resume.io
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VIDEO

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Example of resume
My Japanese Word Basic Noun 160 JLPT N5 N4
Career Advice: References

COMMENTS

How To List References on a Resume (With Examples)
How to write a resume reference list. As you begin putting together a list of references for employers to call on during the hiring process, consider the following steps to guide your document. 1. Determine how many references to include. The number of references you list depends on your career level. For example, if you're entering the job ...
How to List References on a Resume (Dos and Don'ts)
And if a reference expresses a strong preference for a certain method of contact, it's OK to put "(preferred contact)" next to that line on your reference list. To keep things easy for the hiring manager, it's also a good idea to include your own name, phone number, and email at the top of the sheet (see the template and example below).
How to List References on a Resume (Examples + Template)
To expand upon Eva's advice, here are three straightforward tips for listing your references correctly: 1. Create a dedicated list of references separate from your resume. If you haven't done this yet, gather your references onto a page and label it " Professional References .". Having a dedicated references page that's separate from ...
How to List References on Your Resume (With Examples)
Rather than putting references on your resume, type them up on a separate document. On a separate reference page, include the person's first name and last name, current job title and company name, email address, and phone number. Be sure to check with each of your professional references ahead of time, to confirm that the person is willing to ...
When and How to List References on a Resume [+Examples]
Here's how to list references on a resume: 1. Put your name and "References" on top of a separate page. 2. Format all references the same way: list full names, job titles, companies, and contact info. 3. Add at least 3 professional references. 4.
How to List References on a Resume in 2024 (with Examples & Tips)
123 Avenue Way. (123) 456-9890. [email protected]. Always be specific when including the reference's job position or title. Don't just list the name of the company without the exact job title to go along with it. If you are unsure of a reference's job title, ask them before submitting your references to an employer.
How to List References on a Resume [w/ Examples]
First, put your references on a separate sheet. Add an exclusive reference page, as the last page of your resume. Keep the same format for your reference sheet as your resume and cover letter, meaning use the same font, margins, and color scheme. Start off at the very top with your name, address, and phone number.
How to List References on a Resume in 2024 (with Templates)
After that, add a heading. " Professional References " is your best choice. Now's the time to list your 3-5 entries. Here's how to list each of your references on your resume reference sheet: What to Include on Your References List. Reference's First & Last Name. Their Professional Title. Name of Their Company.
How to List References on a Resume [Full Guide with Examples]
Reference No. 3. [Reference Name] [Reference Current Occupation] [Reference Current Work Place] [Reference Contact Information] [Description of the Reference] etc. As you can see, there are no drastic changes in terms of style —we have the same font style and size throughout the entire section.
How to List Resume References (With Examples)
List your references with the following information: Name. Current job/position. Company. Phone number. Email. Your relationship with this person. Complete the reference information with a description explaining where, when and how you know or worked with the person. Be straightforward and only use one sentence.
How to List References on a Resume in 2024 [+Examples]
Choose three to five references. These should mainly be professional references and one personal reference. Choose your references carefully only ask people who will have positive things to say about your performance and personality. Ask permission from your references before sharing their contact information.
How To List References On A Resume (With Examples)
Title your document "Professional References", then list three to four references using the same information as described above: Scott Hemingway - (555) 555 5555 - [email protected] - Chicago, IL. Professional References. Alison Tennant. Operations Manager.
How and When to Include References on a Resume · Resume.io
If an employer is seeking references, be sure that the employer wants the references to be listed "on your resume.". It might be a better idea to include references in a separate attachment that is not actually part of your resume. Every resume needs to have five components: Header: Your contact info. Summary/profile: Your "elevator pitch".
How To List Your Resume References [With Formatting Examples]
Rule #1: Match Your Resume & Reference Sheet Styles. Before you begin adding your references, you want to make sure your reference sheet matches the same style and format of your resume. This means using the same colors, the same font, and the same general layout.
How to Write a Resume Reference List (With Examples)
Select your resume references. Decide how to send your reference list. Ask your contacts to be a reference. 1. Determine how many references to include. There is no set number of references that you should include on your resume reference list. You should at least add two references, though the standard is usually three.
How to List References on a Resume (+ Examples)
Only include a "References" section on your resume in these rare scenarios. If you put a references section at the end of your resume. Make it its page following the rest of the document. Title the page "Professional References." References on a resume example: Professional References. Tamara Jones Head Librarian Peyton Community ...
How to list references on your resumé like a pro + examples
The rule of thumb is to have at least 2 to 3 references on a resumé and 3 to 5 on a separate reference sheet. Make sure that these are individuals who can speak to your skills and character and have been well-informed of what you're asking from them. For each reference, be sure to provide the following: Name.
How to Write a Resume Reference List With Examples
Here is one example you can follow to format your resume reference list: Reference contact information: Name. Title or position. Company. Company address. Reference phone number. Reference email address. Description: Include where you worked with this reference, when you worked together and your working relationship.
How to List Resume References: A Job Seeker's Guide + Sample
Once you have a list of approved references, you can now create your reference list. The proper format for each reference should be as follows: Full name. Job title. Company name. Address. Contact information (phone number and email address) Description of relationship to the reference. Your references should also be listed from top to bottom ...
How to Put References on a Resume? [+Examples]
The references section on your resume contains a list of people who can vouch for you and provide your future employer with more information about your abilities. These can include your teachers, advisors, coaches, colleagues, employers or your direct supervisors. They know how you used your skills in the past, can confirm any qualifications ...
How to Put References on the Resume
A reference page for a resume should be an A4 page with the name and contact information of the candidate at the top, with a clear heading or title. To maintain a consistent structure it would be more professional to use the same style and layout as used on the resume for the name and basic details. When it comes to listing references to ...
References on a Resume: To List or Not to List?
No, you shouldn't include references on a resume. The phrase "references available upon request" isn't needed and it's a thing of the past. The only time you should submit a resume with references is if it's requested in the job description. Create a separate document with your list of references.
How To Put References on a Resume (With Template & Examples)
Use these five steps when you put references on your resume: 1. Determine the number of references to include. The number of references you want to include in your resume depends on your work experience. For example, when you apply for a senior role, you may put a long list to showcase contacts from different points in your work experience.
How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)
It doesn't matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can't contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information: Your full name. First and last. Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly. Your email address.
How to Put LinkedIn on a Resume Like a Pro [w/ Examples]
Next, copy your public profile URL under the Edit your custom URL section. Lastly, paste the link in the header or footer of your resume. #2. Hyperlinking. Another simple tip on how to put LinkedIn on a resume is to hyperlink it to make it clickable. That way, recruiters will have easy, one-click-away access to it.
How to ask a former boss or co-worker for a job reference
Here's how you can effectively ask a former boss or co-worker for a recommendation: Identify suitable references: Choose individuals who can provide a positive endorsement and speak specifically ...