Kimberly writes:
I was just reading the article on your site, Avoid These 10 Resume Mistakes. In this article, one of the mistakes to avoid is to not put references on a resume. What is the reasoning for that rule? I can’t figure out the problem with it.
The Career Doctor responds:
References do not belong in the resume phase of the job search and should not be provided unless the employer asks for them. References are checked between the time the employer decides to interview the candidate and an offer is made.
Some employers ask for references in the resume phase, so references should be prepared and provided on a separate sheet that matches the style of the resume. But, again, don’t provide this reference sheet unless the employer requests references.
Even if you’re fairly confident that your references will say good things about you, offering references before they are requested is an unnecessary risk.
