What is an internet reference on a job application?

A reference is a person who is willing to talk to potential employers about your job skills, abilities, background, and general character—hopefully in a positive light. Potential employers usually contact references by phone or email.

References are people who can talk about your work experience, work habits, character and skills. You should choose your references carefully.

As part of the job search process, you may be asked to provide the names of people whom a potential employer can contact to find out more about you. It is a good idea to choose people who can speak or write favourably about you and your work. This will improve your chances of getting the job.

Providing appropriate local references can be a challenge for newcomers. If you don’t have work experience in Canada, you may have difficulty providing this type of reference. Similarly, if your recent work is unrelated to the type of job you are looking for, your references may not be able to speak to the skills needed for the position.

Many employers prefer work references. If your work references are all from another country, you might include at least one on your list as long as they are comfortable to speak in English, are accessible through email or Skype, and have some understanding of the position you are applying for.

If possible, you should choose someone who has supervised you professionally or who has worked closely with you. A manager, supervisor or even a co-worker from a casual job may be able to speak to your work habits or transferable skills (the skills that you can take from one job to another). They can say, for example, that you are reliable, friendly, organized, and a good problem solver. Other references could include someone who is aware of your work habits or skills through your volunteer or community work.

Academic references are also acceptable and may even be preferable, depending on the situation. If you have been to school recently in Canada, consider asking your teacher to be a reference for you, particularly if you think they can speak positively about your skills and character.

Character references can substitute for work references if there are no other alternatives. They can be friends, a landlord, clients or anyone who can speak to your good personal qualities such as your honesty, dependability, good nature, etc. If they have firsthand knowledge of your work skills, that is even more useful. Close relatives are not generally acceptable references and neither are people who do not know you well.

You may not want to include references from areas of your life you prefer to keep private or that may conflict with your interviewer's values. For example, personal counsellors, therapists, religious leaders or leaders of political or military parties in your home country may not always be appropriate references.

If you still do not have enough references, you may want to consider taking a course in your field of interest. If you participate in class and make a good impression, the teacher or other program staff may be willing to act as a reference for you. Volunteering is also a good way to develop references. However, some organizations do not provide references for volunteers, so it is a good idea to check what the policy is.

Once you have good references, you should try to keep in touch with them frequently. Let them know how your job search is going and thank them for their efforts.

You should ask someone if they will be a reference for you before you give their name to a potential employer. If they agree, let them know what job you are applying for, how you are qualified, and give them a copy of your résumé. For academic references, it can be useful to remind teachers about your projects or grades.

Most people write on their résumé “References Available Upon Request” and don’t include names. If you have been asked to bring references to an interview, take them on a separate sheet of paper and indicate if they are work, character, or academic references. If references are required after the interview, let them know that you will email this list to them. Emailing allows you time to choose your references based on the information you now have about the position.

Your Online Presence: The Internet as a Job Reference. Your persona on the Internet isn't just a footnote in your resume – it's a crucial part of your professional"References vs... · Advice on References · Your Online Presence: The...

Job searching is nerve-wracking. We want our resume to leave a good first impression on hiring managers and don’t want to waste applying to positions we won’t hear back from.

Some trial and error is inevitable when applying for jobs. There’s always a learning curve if you’re entering the workforce or switching industries. But one piece of advice will help ease the process: always tailor applications to the job posting. This includes references.

Choosing whether to include a reference section on your resume depends on several factors, including your work experience and the job ad. We’ll discuss how to list references on a resume and when to include them.

We’ll also note how to write and format a reference list and include templates and tips to get you started.

In most cases, including references on your resume isn’t necessary — but that doesn’t mean it’s always a bad idea.

When hiring managers look at a resume, their main focus is auditing your skills and work experience to see if you qualify for the role. Based on that information, they’ll decide whether or not to invite you for an interview. Contacting references usually happens after you move past this first meeting.

Resumes are most effective when they’re clean and concise. They get through applicant tracking systems more successfully and are easier for hiring managers to read.

When you submit a resume online, it often goes through an applicant tracking software which detects specifics the employer has outlined. If it notices these specifications, your resume moves to the next stage.According to Jobscan, 99% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems, so it’s worth simplifying your resume by omitting references to successfully move through these.

But that doesn't mean requiring references for a job is obsolete. You should always prepare to provide references to a potential employer by creating a resume reference list, should they ask for one.

A resume reference list is a separate document with all your references’ contact information. Recruiters, hiring managers, or direct managers may contact people on your resume reference list to verify your work history and job performance or ask behavioral questions to understand your character.

While in most cases you should only offer references when a hiring manager requests, if you’re a university student, recent grad, or a candidate applying to an entry-level position, providing references will help bolster your application.

Even if a recruiter doesn't call your references before the interview, including them is a great way to demonstrate that you’ve taken initiative to build professional relationships.

Some of the best career advice to take in earnest is to tailor your resume to each job posting. This is the best way to align your skills and experience with the company culture and job description.

Using similar language to the job description when advertising your hard and soft skills makes it easier for recruiters to immediately notice you qualify for the position.

The same rings true when sending references.

Imagine you’re a graphic designer applying for two positions. One is client-facing, while the other requires you to work exclusively with an internal project manager.

In the first scenario, you’ll want to include a former client that can attest to your work ethic and ability to meet deadlines and manage projects. In the latter, you’ll want to include former managers and direct supervisors to vouch for your ability to work in a more collaborative setting.

When narrowing down your choices, consider people that’ll give good character references. Choose contacts who will sing your praises and highlight your strongest qualities, skills, and qualifications.

These are the best people to include as references:

Make sure you’re comfortable with your references knowing you’re actively looking for a job, especially if they’re people you currently work with. Asking a present colleague or manager might create unnecessary tension at your job — especially if you aren’t committed to leaving.

It's also essential to ask people if they’re willing to be a reference for you before giving their information out. Confirm people’s preferred mode of contact before sending reference information.

Some companies require a lengthy phone call with your reference, while a brief email is enough for others. Be sure you respect your references' time and preferences by giving them time to prepare and a heads up if an interview goes well.

It’s also nice to send a thank you note to those who accept being your reference, especially if a potential employer contacts them, to express gratitude and strengthen your connection.

Writing a reference on a resume or reference sheet differs slightly. With a reference sheet, you have more room and should include the following:

The way you include references on your resume will be sparser, as you’ll have less space. Here’s how to format references on a resume:

If you’re really tight for space, just add “References available upon request” at the bottom so employers know you have some prepared if needed.

Include 2–3 references on a resume and 3–5 on a reference sheet. Never submit your reference sheet with your resume — save it for employers that ask. You can prepare one and bring it to an interview in case they request it in the moment.

You should also have an easily editable file to send with a follow-up email to the hiring manager if you’re asked for references during a phone or video interview.

A reference sheet is a valuable way to prepare for an interview. Here are three tips so your document persuades recruiters:

Only include your reference's professional contact information, like a company email, address, and phone number. Don’t give away a contact's personal information unless they’ve explicitly asked you to.

Giving away someone's private information without their consent will likely catch them by surprise and could affect how they talk about you. It also looks less professional to employers.

Keep relationship descriptions short and sweet and avoid personal anecdotes or oversharing.

Here’s a good resume reference example:

Sheryl Dove, Head Project Manager

Sheryl was my direct supervisor at from 2019 to 2022. She oversaw my work on backend software development for more than 25 apps for 12 clients.

Why it works: The description gives all the appropriate, specific information (relationship, business, and years) with number-driven information that will tie into the skills and references on your resume.

Here’s an example of what not to write:

Sheryl Dove, Manager,

I loved working with Sheryl. She is an amazing project manager and I got to enjoy three great years with her. We worked together on lots of projects for many clients. I loved working on apps with her, and she also has the cutest dog.

Why it doesn't work: The description is unnecessarily personal and sounds like a recommendation for Sheryl rather than you. It also forces the hiring manager to do too much work to understand when and where you worked together.

The ideal set of references will show the breadth of your career. Try not to include too many individuals from one company or only your direct supervisor in each role. Instead, provide references that reflect the variety of experiences you’ve included on your resume.

Unless you’re new to the job market or industry, it’s best to keep references off your resume and instead include a reference sheet for requests. No matter the avenue you take, you should know how to list references on a resume or prepare a reference list for when you need one.

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In this lesson, you'll learn how to choose a reference and what contact information you'll need to get from each of them. In addition, we'll show you how to write and format a list of references to give to potential employers.

When it comes to references, choosing the right person is often just as important as the reference itself. The best candidates are people who are familiar with your talents, skills, and performance in the workplace. Alternatively, you can choose someone who isn't familiar with your work but who can speak to other important qualities you may have, such as honesty, dependability, creativity, or strength of character.

Candidates to avoid generally include close friends and family members because they're less likely to be objective. Employers expect them to give you a positive review no matter what, so they have a more difficult time taking them seriously.

Ideal references should also be well-spoken so they can talk about your best qualities in detail. When a potential employer asks, "What can you tell me about so-and-so?" this person wants to hear more than, "She's very nice."

You should keep the need for references in mind throughout your career, not just when you're applying for a new job. If you take the time to build relationships and consistently use networking strategies, you'll have plenty of candidates to choose from. To learn more about networking, visit Networking Basics in our Job Search and Networking tutorial.

It also helps to keep in touch with old bosses, supervisors, and coworkers. If they leave the company where you met, it can be difficult to track them down. Those who still work for the company may be able to give you their information, but you'll probably have better luck searching for them online. Try reconnecting on social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

It's a professional site like facebook for business where you'll have your professional profile and CV and employers to look at it.you then can

References are people who can talk about your work experience, work habits, character and skills. You should choose your references carefully. As part of the job search process, you may be asked to provide the names of people whom a potential employer can contact to find out more about you.

Your list of references should include professional connections who can attest to your qualifications for the job. Your references don't have to be people who work

Internet Reference Library: Careers & Job Searching. A listing of links to help students find information on specific topics. Welcome · A - B

Job seekers should use the privacy settings on networking sites to allow While not all companies are using the Internet in the hiring process,