Professional Resume Writing Advice

What to do about References on a resume

Should I or shouldn't I include a "References" heading at the bottom of my resume?

A professional resume writing service can only be provided by an expert resume writer who can easily explain  every strategy that is implemented in writing a new resume. But there is much controversy when it comes to including or not including References as a heading at the bottom of your resume.

​The truth is that reference-checking is still a widespread practice and there are effective strategies to professionally handle the reference checking process.

I see time and time again, in various articles, that the line "References available upon request" is outdated. I find the advice so wrong that I like to search and learn more about the professional backgrounds of the writers who spread this futile advice online. Often I find that most of them have not worked A DAY as a Recruiter! But I have! In fact, I have been a Recruiter for more than two decades. I have called on countless jobseekers' references, and have heard all kinds of details from employers, communicated verbally, or otherwise. So, you must believe me when I say that not everybody has shiny references. Employers have their ways of letting Recruiters know that.... And recruiters are professionally trained to dig for details; that's what they are paid for, among other things.

In my recruiting days, whenever I came  across a resume that did not include the clause "References available upon request", at the very least, I would frown. I could not help but wonder if this person has bad references, otherwise "what would it take to just include that clause in the resume for us????? How hard could it be???" And that is why I would insert that resume at the BOTTOM OF THE PILE.

Considering the number of resumes I had to review on ANY given day which would actually offer me the information I needed, I wasn't going to call "Mr/Ms Mysterious" to find out the thought process behind not including that simple clause about References at the bottom of their resume. I would just call the resumes who made it clear that if I need to check references, it "WILL BE" available upon request.

I have not only applied this rule to those resumes that have crossed my desk, but over the years, I have also trained many other recruiters to do the same. Needless to say, they all found this internal strategy to be an efficient one, in terms of time management.

​My 2 cents comes from first-hand experience, from the other side of the interviewing desk... Only because I have been there, COUNTLESS times... Today, I share that with you, here.

Keep "References" as a Heading the bottom of your resume

I see time and time again, in various articles, that the line "References available upon request" is outdated. When I do a little search online for theseI see time and time again, in various articles, that the line "References available upon request" is outdated. When I do a little search online for these authors' backgrounds, I see that most of them have not worked a day as a Recruiter. But I have! In fact, I have been a Recruiter, for more than two decades. I have called on countless candidates' references, and have heard all kinds of details from employers, communicated verbally, or otherwise. You must believe me when I say that not everybody has shiny references. Employers have their ways of letting Recruiters know that.... And recruiters know how to dig; that's what they are paid for, among other things. In my recruiting days, when I would come across a resume that did not include the clause "References available upon request", at the very least, I would frown. I could not help but wonder if this person has bad references, otherwise "what would it take to just include that clause in the resume for us????? How hard could it be???" And that is why I would insert that resume at the bottom of the pile. I am sorry to say, but considering the number of resumes I had on ANY given day, to go through, which would clearly offer me the information I needed, I wasn't going to call "Mr. Mysterious" to find out the thought process behind not including that clause. I would just call the ones who made it clear that if I need to check references, it "WILL BE" available upon request. I have not only applied this rule to those resumes that have crossed my desk, but over the years, I have also trained many other recruiters to do the same. Needless to say, they all found this internal strategy to be an efficient one, in terms of time management. My 2 cents comes from first-hand experience, from the other side of the interviewing desk... authors' backgrounds, I see that most of them have not worked a day as a Recruiter. But I have! In fact, I have been a Recruiter, for more than two decades. I have called on countless candidates' references, and have heard all kinds of details from employers, communicated verbally, or otherwise. You must believe me when I say that not everybody has shiny references. Employers have their ways of letting Recruiters know that.... And recruiters know how to dig; that's what they are paid for, among other things. In my recruiting days, when I would come across a resume that did not include the clause "References available upon request", at the very least, I would frown. I could not help but wonder if this person has bad references, otherwise "what would it take to just include that clause in the resume for us????? How hard could it be???" And that is why I would insert that resume at the bottom of the pile. I am sorry to say, but considering the number of resumes I had on ANY given day, to go through, which would clearly offer me the information I needed, I wasn't going to call "Mr. Mysterious" to find out the thought process behind not including that clause. I would just call the ones who made it clear that if I need to check references, it "WILL BE" available upon request. I have not only applied this rule to those resumes that have crossed my desk, but over the years, I have also trained many other recruiters to do the same. Needless to say, they all found this internal strategy to be an efficient one, in terms of time management. My 2 cents comes from first-hand experience, from the other side of the interviewing desk...

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