Managing References on Resumes

Let's talk about Resume Format for a minute... This seems to be a #hottopic and there's a lot of mixed opinions about it, so as someone who looks at hundreds of resumes daily, someone who writes resumes, someone who coaches on effective resume construction, and a hiring manager lens... here's some things to think about... 1.) Is the creative "flair" of your resume format distracting the reader from finding or seeing the impact you've made in your career? Impact is key! 2.) Can you open your resume from an email on your phone and still read it appropriately? ~This is a BIG ONE! If you cannot open your resume from your email on your phone and EASILY scroll down your phone to read it... you're setting yourself up for failure. ~Hiring managers will open your resume on their phone in between meetings. Or while sitting in a meeting where their laptop is being used for the Zoom call, so they open your resume on their phone to multi-task... and if they can't read it (the words are on top of each other, the formatting changes, they cannot make sense of your work history because everything got jumbled up), you might not be selected for an interview. Simply put, they may choose the candidate who's resume was easily readable on their phone. ~It could literally make the difference in being selected for an interview. 3.) Is your contact information on it? (but seriously, I cannot tell you how many resumes I've seen without any phone number or email address, only a linkedin profile link) This does NOT help a recruiter reach out to you! I'm not sure who told you that you shouldn't have your contact information on your resume... but if you actually WANT A JOB, make it easy for people to call, text, or email you about opportunities. Please! 4.) Delete dates off degrees (this opens you up to age discrimination). Bachelor's degree in 1984 ("wow, that was 40 years ago"). Bias... both conscious & unconscious bias live within the dates on degrees... Don't shoot the messenger, just learn to make your resume work FOR YOU and not against you. 5.) Do not list references by name with phone numbers. Instead, get a simple impactful quote from each of them, and display one of those quotes directly on your resume. "Allison is an incredible resource for us, she immediately found nursing talent during a nursing shortage to serve our patients. Our operators request her by name for their hard to fill positions! -Sr. VP of TA" Of course, I could go on and on... but I feel these 5 fundamentals will give you a great head-start in formatting your resume the right way for recruiters and hiring managers! What else would you add? Your Coach, AK #resumeformat #resumewriting #resume #resumewriter #craftagreatresume #resumeimpact #interviewingnow #hiringnow #interviewing #hiring #careercoach #careercoaching #careeradvisor #jobsearch #searchingforajob #application #applynow #findyourvillage #youbelonghere #youcandothis

It is best to not put references on your resume. It does not make your resume more appealing to Recruiters or hiring managers. I have never heard of someone saying, "I was on the fence about their qualifications, but they had five references listed so I called them." Your references should not be contacted until you give approval. You are giving free confidential information to a Recruiter who may be attempting to grow their client base. That well-intended contact information is a sales lead. Although some companies perform reference checks, reference checks as a standard practice stopped long ago. When interviewing, you can always speak well of your performance at a previous position, and say something along the lines of, "I am proud of my work there. I left a great impression on management, and my direct report is a reference of mine I can make available." Simply putting "References available upon request" is sufficient. Your references are a valuable business network, handle it with care. #mollitiam

A few days ago, I was coaching someone through their final offer stage. We were feeling good — everything looked lined up. Then we hit the reference check. Most people think, “I’ll just send the recruiter or hiring manager a list of names, and that’s enough.” But here’s the truth: references can make or break an offer. ✅ Did you give your references a heads-up? ✅ Do they know what the role is and why you’re excited about it? ✅ Have you coached them on the types of questions they’ll be asked — like your strengths, areas of growth, or why you left a past role? Your references are your advocates. If they’re caught off guard, their answers may not tell the story you want conveyed. The candidate I was working with took the time to prep their references — and when the calls came, the feedback was strong, consistent, and aligned with the narrative they’d shared in interviews. The lesson? Don’t just hand over names. Prepare your references like you’d prepare yourself.

I’ve seen 1000s of CVs. These 3 mistakes come up time and time again. They’re easy to miss - but they could be costing you interviews and the job you want. Here's what you need to avoid, and how to fix them. ❌ Recycling an old CV Most people just add their latest role to an outdated CV. The result? Your most recent (and most important) experience gets buried. ✅ Start fresh. Build a CV that reflects who you are today - not who you were years ago. ❌ Overloading your CV Some people try to cram every details into their CV. It’s not supposed to get you the job - it’s purpose is to get you the interview. ✅ Keep your resume concise and tailored to the role. Save the details for when you’re speaking to the hiring manager. ❌ Adding references to your CV References aren’t needed at this stage, and adding them wastes valuable space. Worse, your previous bosses might get bombarded by recruiters pitching other candidates like you. ✅ Leave references out and use the space for what matters to get the interview. If a company needs references, they’ll ask later. With LinkedIn’s own data showing that more than 9,000 people apply for jobs every minute, you can’t afford to have a CV that let’s you down. But sometimes less is more. Standing out might be about what you leave out of your resume, not what you include. What other common CV mistakes have you seen? (or made?!) Feel free to share in the comments below.

Why You Shouldn’t Include Reference Information on Your Resume... A Recruiter's Perspective... 👩💻 Let’s talk about a common but outdated practice: listing references (and their contact information) directly on your resume. While it might seem like a helpful gesture, it’s actually not in your best interest or your references’ best interest. When you send your resume, you lose control over where it goes. That’s why modern resume advice recommends leaving off personal details like your full street address (city + state is sufficient on the resume). The same logic applies to your references. By including their names, phone numbers, and emails, you’re sharing their private information with unknown individuals, companies, or systems. Here’s the good news: if references are needed, they’ll be requested later in the interview process. At that point, you’ll have a better idea of where your information is going and can notify your references to expect a call or email. Protect your references’ privacy the same way you’d protect your own. Keep their details off your resume, and trust the process. There’s no need to overshare before it’s necessary! #PilotJobs #AviationJobs #CareerAdvice #ResumeTips #JobSearch #Recruitment #ProfessionalDevelopment #AviationCareers #ProtectPrivacy #ResumeWriting #Hiring