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Should I list my referees/ references on resumes?
I get asked this question a lot.
Now I know that a few people will say “yes you must list your referees on your resume.” But I’m not that trusting.
So my short answer is no.
Here’s my longer answer on why I’m not a fan of people listing their referees on their resume…..
When a recruiter interviews you and the notes that you have listed your references on your resume, they will most likely check with you that they are still current. So you’re going to be asked who they are anyway.
This means that you can determine after the interview who is the most appropriate person to provide a reference. You can base this on the questions the interviewer has asked you, or the information you think they’ll need.
This is good news for you.
Even better is that many agencies follow the privacy guidelines when they contact your referees. While each agency has their own variation of these guidelines, the guidelines generally protect you as the candidate.
I’ve read guidelines that tell the referee that you, as a job seeker, can request access to the referee’s comments. When I’ve checked references and told the referee that, they’ve paused and considered what they’ve said.
They may still have said negative things, but they’ve backed that up with examples and detail. Whether all of this helps anyone find the right person for the right job is the topic of a whole other blog post.
So let’s move on.
The reason I say no referees on resumes, is that I have heard too many cases where agencies assign a junior recruiter to reference checking.
The junior has picked up a resume and contacted the job seeker’s referees without the job seeker knowing, and without referring to the privacy guidelines.
You want to avoid this scenario for a few reasons.
1) You don’t get a chance to let your referees know that they may receive a call.
2) Your referees get pinged off as they’re being bombarded with calls.
3) The junior recruiter may go on a dirt hunting trip without you knowing it.
If you are worried that you cannot find your referees, then read this post.
Hope this helps.
And I’d love to hear your take below.
Karalyn is the Founder of InterviewIQ and chief champion for all her clients. Get personal coaching to make 2023 your most successful year yet. Check out our job search booster services here>>Give me smarter ways to find a job .
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I personally prefer not to put any referees on my resumes or at least put people I can really trust…
ALWAYS!! I read somewhere that 20% of the “weight” of your CV is attributed to the response of your referees. Sorry to disagree with Karalyn, but I always think it looks a bit “suss” if a client has no referees or says “referees on request”. I always encourage my clients to brief each referee with the position they are applying for, encourage to email their application, and if possible phone as a courtesy to advise they may be contacted…of course this way they are more likely to be a reliable referee, and I suggest omit putting say a professional like a doctor or a pharmacist – unless you have a clearly demonstrated professional relationship with them, otherwise the employer may think you are are a health risk …oops!
Hi Debra,
Thanks for your comment. I can see your point.
The trouble is that often a resume gets passed around and you do get people in the recruitment process, or even not connected to the recruitment process, taking it upon themselves to call referees, especially when the industry is a close-knit industry. People can get ruled out of a job based on rumour and innuendo, rather than their ability to do the job.
As an interviewer, I think it’s more suspect if when I interview people, they are not forthcoming with names and details of referees. I get them in to an interview based on their relevance to the job not who’s listed as a reference.
Karalyn
I never include referees on my resume as I strongly believe that an infringement upon one’s privacy rights will occur. I have attended many interviews without providing referees until requested and have found that this has been the best approach to take.
I rarely get asked about referees until the CV gets a ‘bite’ from a recruiter.
I see a CV as being first impression or first point of contact. It’s a sales tool, or a tool to get you off a big list of all possible candidates and into a smaller pile of potential interviewees.
Thus, being a total stranger, I don’t see the point of listing referees.
It’s open to abuse and, as pointed out, who wants referees getting calls from a job which you may not even be interested in after talking to the interviewer.
Job applications are a two way process and the person looking for a position should be just as discerning as the recruiter.
A great ad or job description does not equal a great job.
Should the CV get a response, one is then able to discuss further details, such as whether the role and company culture is a good fit. If by the end of that conversation there is a mutual interest, it’s a great idea to offer referees.
I tend to agree with what others have suggested about no including referees on a resume. Yet I see more and more advertised positions stating that you must including referees with your application.
I assume in this situation we are left with little choice?
Hi Robert,
I have seen that on government applications, particularly with internal applications. You do have choice about whom you list to some extent. So I would be inclined to say, list people whom you have worked with in the past and whom you know will keep your job search confidential. Then I would explain that you are happy to provide a more direct manager should your application progress to the stage where you are firmly in the running.
It is interesting that recruiters in the private sector are becoming more constrained by regulation around this, yet not so much in the public sector.
If anyone else has views on this or ideas on how to handle this, I’d love it if you shared them.
Karalyn
Hi,
As a recruiter for some 15 years there are a couple of points. Firstly, as a candidate I would hold off on putting refs in a CV. You should have a number of people who can act as referees and after the interview you should have a better idea what the job entails and therefore who is the most appropriate person to act for you. You should also ask who will be conducting the ref check…
Secondly as a recruiter I will always ask a candidate for the most appropriate person to give me the information I need. I always set the reference up by telling the candidate I need someone who can spend at least 15 minutes talking to me about them…. this means the candidate knows this is not a tick and flick form to be filled in by a junior but an important part of the process. Reference checks can be as important as the interview if the recruiter sees it that way and puts as much effort into tailoring each ref check to the candidate not the job.
I don’t list them on any Resume or CV I send out, and as a recruiter, I advise my candidates not too either.
Saying “references available upon request” is a giant waste of space too; this is implied or assumed. If you’re interviewing, companies assume you can provide references if they want to move forward and make a job offer.
I don’t like putting references on my cv.Some of them espc. past employers/workmates may be jealous of you and talk negative things.
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