If you are working on your first resume, or perhaps, it’s your tenth resume; you may well wonder how to best close a resume-and if a close is even necessary. Here’s what you need to know.
How do you close a resume? There has long been a dispute about whether one should use a “References upon Request” at the conclusion of one’s resume or if they should include an attachment with professional references and the actual information included with these references. Let’s take a look at both, to help to better understand which route might be better for you.
Professional References upon Request
One of the staples of creating a professional resume has always been to include this statement after you have summed up all of your career qualifications: Professional References upon Request. This has been an allusion to the fact that the applicant has professional references that can attest to the information that they have included in the resume document. What this typically means is that the applicant has three or more professional contacts that can be contacted through updated contact information, should the employer want to verify and find out more about the applicant that they are considering hiring. It is implied that this professional contact information is available and waiting upon the employer to request it.
This said, adding this to the end of a resume has long been a formality; as many employers have no intention of asking for the professional reference contact information prior to seriously considering the applicant for the position. So, in most cases, an employer will sift through hundreds of resumes, call a handful, and then interview a few. From there, they could choose to hold another round of interview, and typically, right before making the final decision-an employer will call professional references. This is why it is often considered preliminary to offer professional reference information prior to this stage ion the hiring process.
Moreover, those who have these professional contacts do not want to be giving away all the contact’s privileged information to every employer that they send their resume to. This is just a sign of respect and an attention to confidentiality for the reference that provided you with the reference for a position that you are interested in. Employers most often understand this dedication to the reference, and will not ask for the information until a later step in the process.
Included Professional References
On the other hand, there will be instances when a potential employer will ask that you include your professional references along with your resume application. Does this mean that you should include them on your resume? Some professionals say so, but more often than not, this is highly unprofessional, and will not be accepted with a good impression. This said, if an employer does ask for this information along with your resume, and you are comfortable with doing so-include a separate document with the information of 3 or more professional references. Moreover, touch base with these contacts to let them know that they may be contacted in connection to you applying for this position.
