How to List References on Resume

1. Protocols to follow
2. Decide who makes the cut
3. Seek permission before proceeding
4. How to list references on resume
5. Uniformity in formatting
6. References on resume samples
7. Things to remember

Resumes are very important to every job seeker. A very important yet out of focus aspect is the references on resume.

Although an outdated practice, recruiters insist that jobseekers get references sometimes.

The question then arises, how can you list the references on your resume

Read this blog to find out how you can list references, seek reference approval and get professional references for job application resume.

Protocols to follow

Your recruiter can ask for your professional references either after a telephonic interview or at a later stage in your hiring process.

Now, the basic protocol is to avoid putting “professional references available upon request.” This is the biggest mistake committed while writing references on resume.

The reason being, it might lead to the assumption that you lack contacts who can refer you.

Also, even if you can provide a list of references, avoid doing so in the initial stage.

You can provide a professional reference list once you are aware of the recruiter’s requirements and tailor it accordingly.

Decide who makes the cut

The question of who should make it to the list is naturally the first question to strike you.

So, choose someone you have worked with and can put in a good word or two to help you bag your dream job.

The basic rule to follow while listing references on a resume is to always list your former employer, direct manager, and a colleague.

To help you list references on a resume better, let's divide candidatures into freshers and seniors.

In case you are a fresher, you can list 3-4 people as your professional reference.

Also, you can name your professors in your personal references section. They can put in a few words regarding your growth and personal character.

However, if you belong to the senior candidate category 5-7 is the ideal number to list in the reference on your resume.

Seek permission before proceeding

Now, that we know who makes it to the list, the next step should be how to approach them for the same.

When listing names as references on resume, it is important that you have taken prior permission.

So, how do you seek a person's permission to list them as professional reference?

To begin with, the best way will be to either meet them in person or over call.

On receiving positive response from the other end, you can resort to an email.

However, before sending an email, here are certain things to consider.

First things first, it is best to introduce yourself. Also, you can add your resume to help the situation.

You can also ask your references their preference of contact channel like call, email or any other possible method in case the recruiter wants to reach out to them.

Do convey this information to your recruiter as well.

How to list references on resume

Now that we have covered the base, here is the format in which your references on a resume should be listed.

• Name of the referred
• Professional designation
• Name of the company
• Address of the company
• State and zip code of the company’s location
• Phone number of the referred
• Email id

Or,

Jasmeet Singh
Editor-in-Chief
ABC Media Ltd.,
17/4 Jahangir Nagar, New Delhi,
Delhi-14012

Also Read: Resume Keywords: List Of 21 Relevant Power Words

Uniformity in formatting

Uniformity in formatting the references page is crucial to the resume.

So, make sure that you follow the same template for your reference page as the rest of the resume and cover letter.

This is how it will go.

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email id
• Date
• Professional reference section

Similar to your resume, these details will either be in the center or on the left-hand side of the document (whichever style you have followed in the rest of the document).

A quick tip, when listing your references, always begin with the latest organization that you have switched from.

References on resume samples

Here are a few sample templates to help you understand the format of listing references on a resume.

Or,

Or,

However, in case you are missing out on any information of your references, don't worry.

Just ensure that you have at least one contact detail for your recruiter to reach out.

Things to remember

Here are a few key takeaways for you to help list your references on resume.

• List your professional reference on a separate page.
• Ensure that the references listed are in the same format as the rest of your document.
• Keep the list crisp.
• List your professional references in the descending order (from the last organization you have served.)
• Avoid phrases such as “professional references can be available upon request.”
• Refrain from listing professional references in the initial stages of a job application.

With the above-mentioned points, you will get an idea about how to list references on resume.

Also, here are some additional reads to help you make your resume look super impressive.

• Resume Headline Example For Naukri
• Best Skills For Resume