Format a List of References With a Resume

Resumes are often one of the first items potential employers will see when you apply for a job. A list of references is included to validate claims present in the resume and establish trust. This article will outline optimal ways to format your list of references.

Steps

1. Start a list of direct supervisors, or superiors who had a favorable impression if possible, for each job you've held. The higher up the corporate structure the better.
2. Start a list of impressive individuals who may be able to provide a character reference. At a minimum your character reference should be able to verify your identity.
3. Contact each reference to ensure the contact information is valid and that the supervisor is willing to provide a reference. Be sure to ask what form of communication is preferred.
4. Find out if a specific resume format has exact requirements. For example Federal Resumes will require a specific format.
5. If not then array contact information for each employer arranged in the same order as the jobs were presented in the resume.
6. Add Personal References last, unless they are from someone of such note or good repute in the industry as to warrant being the first item listed
7. List the References by First and Last Name, their current title if appropriate and list the contact information of the preferred communication method of each contact.
8. Remember you want to be advocate for your reference by making it easy for your potential employer to contact them but not necessarily provide enough information to be a spammers dream (unfortunately you can get spammed from information included on resumes by some unscrupulous parties).
9. To save space you can put these items inline or provide line breaks between the Name, Title, and Contact information as you see fit but the order and format should be consistent throughout.

Warnings

• Be sure to check out if there are specific requirements for certain jobs. While some employers will look at your resume references, other employers will need much more detailed background.
• Scammers may try to scrape information from your resume, some information such as a full addresses for yourself or references, may be omitted; private or confidential information, such as your social security number, should never be listed.

Related Articles

• Make a Culinary Portfolio
• Decide what to Include in a Resume
• Write a Summary of Your Computer Proficiency
• Upload an Existing Resume on CareerBuilder
• Include References on a Resume

References

• Professional Resume Examples
  • TheLadders Resume Resources
• University Resume Resources
  • Yale Resume Resources

See also

• Write a Thank You Letter for Job Contacts
• Make a Reference Page
• Recommend Someone for a Job
• Give References Without Job Experience
• Ask for a Reference
• Handle Bad References
• Know What to Expect from a Reference Check
• Tell an Ex Employer That Their Reference Letter Isn't Good Enough
• Write a Follow Up Email to a Resume Submission
• Write a Polite Reference for a Disliked Employee

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