On your resume, who do you put down for your 3 references?

Question

is it professional references or friends? or a mixture? please explain, thank you!

let me rephrase. i know i dont do all 3 as friends. but do i do all 3 as professional or like 2 professional and 1 friend?

Answer 1

Let me say that references don't belong on a resume at all! If an employer doesn't ask for them, then you can easily provide them when and if asked later on.

And if they do want them, then it's customary to list them separately on a reference sheet. But if an employer specifically asks you to include them on your resume, you want to select people who can vouch for the quality of your work and character.

Answer 2

That depends on your level of experience. I have 10 years in my field so I use all professional references. If you are brand new in a field it is OK to use a friend as a reference but I would keep it to 2 professional references and 1 personal reference.

Answer 3

Professional is best - I mean, what can someone's friend tell you about how they are professionally?

Be sure to call the people first to be sure it's okay to put them down as a reference!

Answer 4

Professional references only,except if your best friend is your boss,you get the idea.No family references what-so-ever.Make sure you ask the people for permission before you use them as a reference though.

Answer 5

i suppose it depends on where you're applying, but I'm guessing that 99.999% of employers aren't going to care what your friends think of you. i mean, really, what are they going to say? "Georgie has been my bestest friend since kindergarten and we get drunk regularly every weekend together!"

if you're at a point where you have to resort to friends, then you either burned all your bridges in life and have ticked off all your employers or you're very young. if you're the first, then it doesn't matter, because your personality is such that you probably don't have many friends anyway - and those that you do have probably wouldn't make good references. If you're the later, then you can always try others that know you well, outside of your personal life - teachers being the first to come to mind, coaches, possibly ministers, etc.

But essentially, if you want to be considered seriously, stay away from friends and family.

Answer 6

Previous employers, if you don't have three then try educational establishments (college, school etc) and then perhaps if you still haven't got enough try older family friends that have professional jobs that would give you a good reference and have a standing in the community.

Answer 7

Torn l,
They are asking for professional references. After all they are hiring you as an employee not as a friend. They want to know if you have a good background in your previous employment. What ever you do don't lie on your application, it could come back and haunt you later.
TDCWH

Answer 8

professional references

Answer 9

Never put down friends because with the job market being so competetive, ALWAYS put down professional references so that way the recruiters/headhunters can know what type of worker are you. If you mention friends, the headhunter/human resource manager will turn you away because a friend doesn't know your work environment.

Answer 10

all professional, preferably someone that has managed/lead you prior.

always best to make sure they know ahead of time first before you put them down as references. also, of course, insure you've choosen those that will be positive in commentary.

if you have insufficient prior managers, find someone that can attest to your skills/talents/abilities in your field.....a peer perhaps.

an employer isn't going to contact a friend of yours...they know they will give you a glowing recommendation...besides, it wouldn't be job relevant.

good luck.