references/referees

References and referees are usually listed at the end of your resume. This can be a list of around 2 to 3 people you have worked with in the past or present - usually your managers or ex-colleagues.

It’s always essential to include a referee who was your direct manager and a reference of someone who can vouch for you as a colleague or someone you know personally. Always ask for permission before listing someone as a reference.

an excellent format to follow is:

Full name of the referee
Job Title of referee
Company name of the referee
Location of company
Phone number of referee
Email address of a referee

Securing good references (both written and verbal) is an integral part of your job search - the people you list will be called and asked to provide some information on your relationship with them and give an indication of how you performed in your role when they knew you.

Usually, contact details for referees are not required until the end stages of the recruitment process. So you can provide their reference details on your resume or include a line in this section saying ‘References available upon request’.

Either way, it is customary for prospective employers or recruitment agents to ask your permission first before proceeding to contact the people you list here.

additional hints and tips

Your resume should be considered your shop window, proudly displaying your skills and experience to prospective employers, highlighting your crucial career and educational achievements and compelling the recruiter or hiring manager to request an interview.

It is your number one personal marketing tool. Its purpose is to help you stand out amongst the competition and catch a potential employer’s interest, with the primary objective of being invited for an interview.

One of the most challenging things about writing a resume is figuring out what makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd and why you would be a good fit for the job.

If you can’t answer these questions yourself, you will have difficulty convincing a prospective employer that you are the one they should hire. So, before you start writing your resume, sit down and make a list of your skills, strengths, interests and experience.

Figure out what makes you unique and how to define your brand.

The most important thing when writing your resume is to make sure that it is relevant and customised to the job you are applying for. It showcases your skills and experience in a way that makes the hiring manager reading it jump out of their chair and call you for an interview.

proofreading and layout are essential.

Before sending out your resume to apply for roles, check that you have no spelling errors and that it is well formatted and easy to read.

Search online for ideas on different layout formats and use one which will ensure all of your information is presented in an efficient and eye-catching way using the least amount of pages.
Ideally, 2-3 pages are best, but if there is a need to utilise 4-5 pages, that can still be acceptable.
You can ask friends, family or even a trusted recruitment consultant for feedback on your resume so you can make continuous improvements.

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