Is There a More Outdated Term on a Resume than “References Available on Request”?

Your resume is the first impression a prospective employer gets of you, so ideally everything you want them to know should be presented in clear, open and concise manner. We all know the basic contents of the most important document for a job hunter. But the one phrase which can almost declare the best of CV’s null and void is “References Available on Request”.

Here’s why:

Resumes Should Provide Information in One Go

You’re never the only one being interviewed for a specific job opening so why would you hassle the interviewer with having to “request” more information from you? Nearly every company does a background check and they’re going to need your references to do it. Thus, to make the hiring company’s job easier you should provide all the information they’ll require, increasing your chances of being hired.

Informing your list of references that they may be contacted before going to the interview solidifies your chances of getting a thorough and positive review. Whether it’s email, phone or Skype nobody really likes to be contacted unexpectedly. Giving people a heads up will give them a chance to get some material ready.

As a Prospective New Hire, You Must Approach Proactively

When someone applies to my company I expect them to have done research on the organization. If they come without thoroughly going through the company website I automatically feel like they’re not as interested in the position as someone who has done their homework. The same applies to providing references.

Take an extra step by talking to the references listed in advance and tell them what company and which position you’re applying for. If you’re not yet ready to disclose your interview to your current employer, select references appropriately and inform them of this fact. These days, the job hunting game is extremely fast paced and having a passive attitude could lose you the job of your dreams.

Resumes should be Job Specific

Cover letters and resumes should be company and job specific. The minute someone in HR reads “To Whom It May Concern” they feel slightly snubbed (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise). Since you obviously know the company and position you’re applying for, do yourself a favor and provide references that are relevant to both.

Since you’ll be researching the prospective company, try to present information including the references in a creative but digestible way. For example, many companies are open to an infographic style CV but it may be too non-traditional for others. For the latter, you could use email and phone icons instead of simply writing the words. There are always creative ways to target your audience – you just have to figure them out.

Confidence is key to having a successful interview but having extremely strong feedback from references is just as important. Anyone with interviewing skills is able to filter through genuine and fake references so make sure you’re doing justice to yourself and the prospective organization when providing them. What other traditional terms can you think of on a resume that are now obsolete or redundant? Share your resume best practices in the comments below.

Flickr photo courtesy of Caro Wallis