References
REFERENCES
References are included on a separate reference sheet rather than on the actual document itself
The references area is not actually a section, although some people chose to include the following banner on their C.V or resume to highlight this for employers
The advice is that such a banner it’s not strictly necessary; that’s why it’s best to simply omit this altogether, as it is understood you will provide references if required
If you don’t have any references, you would simply omit this anyway
If you do have any references, you should compile a separate “References” sheet with the names, titles, contact information, and relationships of your references. Like so:
At the top of the page, provide your own contact details:
Name
Phone number
Email
Then make the list of references below.
Generally, you should strive to obtain 3 to 5 references to include on your references sheet, (although three is usually sufficient for most job applications). Ideally, these references would include a mix of past supervisors, colleagues, and mentors who can vouch for your professional qualifications and character
Reference 1
Name of reference / Department of Organisation (if the reference is generic)
The formal job title of your reference and their connection to you
(E.g., former manager, colleague, generic – HR department, etc)
Company your reference belongs to
Optional (You can include the address of the company where your reference works if you know it)
Email of reference
Phone number of reference
Reference 2
Name of reference / Department of Organisation (if the reference is generic)
The formal job title of your reference and their connection to you
(E.g., former manager, colleague, generic – HR department, etc)
Company your reference belongs to
Optional (You can include the address of the company where your reference works if you know it)
Email of reference
Phone number of reference
Reference 3
Name of reference / Department of Organisation (if the reference is generic)
The formal job title of your reference and their connection to you
(E.g., former manager, colleague, generic – HR department, etc)
Company your reference belongs to
Optional (You can include the address of the company where your reference works if you know it)
Email of reference
Phone number of reference
Where listing a company as a reference, be aware that many larger companies will nowadays provide generic references only. These references will simply confirm the dates that you worked for them, along with the position or positions you held with them during those dates, with perhaps a very brief overview of the duties you performed in those roles, nothing more
Letter reference example.
Email reference example.
This generic format has become increasingly common over the years and is used by companies to limit liability against them where issuing references on behalf of former employees is concerned. The references themselves are normally issued through a company’s HR department, so oftentimes you won’t have a name or title you can list against the reference itself. In this case, you would simply include the postal or email address on your reference sheet – (you can normally obtain these details through your line manager or HR department)
The employer will specify what references they are looking for. Often times, this will be a variation between professional and character references. That’s why it’s ideal to have between 2 – 4 professional references from different sources, and at least 1 character reference on hand if possible, although depending on your circumstances, oftentimes it may not always not be so!
Be sure to obtain permission from whatever references you do list, and in this regard, it may also be a good idea to check in with them on a (regular) basis, as it will help you ensure that their contact details are current and that you stay on good terms with them
(This is something that can be done quite tactfully – sending them a yearly Christmas or Birthday card/ecard is certainly one great way you can do this)