Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

NO References on Resume

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

Resume Writer

Registered User
Joined
Feb 7, 2004
Posts
1,121
Hi Everyone,

Lately, I have been seeing a good deal of resumes coming through my office (aviation and non-aviation) that have references listed on the resume. References should be on a separate page, not on the resume.

When I teach my clients and job seekers about references, I provide them with these pearls of wisdom:

1. References should be treated like gold. They should only be contacted when there is an interest in employment by both parties.

2. References should not include previous supervisors. There is limited information that they can provide without getting stung later in a lawsuit. Previous supervisors can be listed on the application itself, unless you have had a bad relationship with them. Then I suggest that people put down only "Human Resources" with the main company number.

3. References should be people that can attest to your character and work habits. These can include suppliers or vendors you have dealt with, other airline or aviation people that know you WELL, or perhaps past flight instructors or professors at your university or college.

4. Be careful who you include. When I was speaking to one of my HR friends the other day, she told me that when they asked the references what weaknesses that the potential candidate had - they TOLD them. Not good! There is no requirement that says they HAVE to tell the potential employer your weakness.

The biggest reason for not including references is because 1) that gives the potential employer someone else to recruit, and 2) your references could be called by employers that you do not want to work for - which could be for any number of reasons.

Just my two cents,
Kathy
 
Heh. I got a question then. When I send in an application, should I also include a resume or is the application enough?
 
Send in the resume as well. (unless stated otherwise) There is limited space on the application to provide details of your positions. You should also include a cover letter.

The order of documents should be:

Cover letter on top of resume, resume on top of application. If you are asked to include copies of licenses, degrees or training records, those should go behind the application.

These should all be placed in a 9x12 envelope. Remember, oversized envelopes take extra postage. The last thing you want is an employer getting a "postage due" on your documents.

Hope that helps!
Kathy
 
what about the often used, "References avaliable upon request" line?
 
I use that at the bottom of almost every resume, if space allows, because it states that the resume information has ended. That way employers are not curious if they are missing another page. There is nothing wrong with that phrase; I use it all the time. It has never hurt any of my candidates.

Kathy
 
Just wondering what your thoughts on this are.

When employers do request references, is there a magical number? I've just always heard three. Two seems too skimpy and four seems like overload.

Just wondering if you had any insight and the reason for that insight.

Thanks!
 
I always tell my clients at least three references, four if you have them. Also, if all of your references are long distance, you need to have at least one that is local. Some companies ask for 3 professional and 3 personal. It just depends on what the company is asking for from you.

Kathy
 
Resume Writer said:
I use that at the bottom of almost every resume, if space allows, because it states that the resume information has ended. That way employers are not curious if they are missing another page. There is nothing wrong with that phrase; I use it all the time. It has never hurt any of my candidates.

When I was put in the position of screening/hiring applicants, I did not want to see "References available upon request". It goes without saying. If I want references for somebody I am interested in hiring, I will ask for them. I don't want to see them on the resume(just adds to the clutter and makes a resume unnecessarily long).
 
FracCapt said:
When I was put in the position of screening/hiring applicants, I did not want to see "References available upon request". It goes without saying. If I want references for somebody I am interested in hiring, I will ask for them. I don't want to see them on the resume(just adds to the clutter and makes a resume unnecessarily long).
Did having that phrase on there ever cause you not to hire a pilot? Seems like your splitting hairs on this one.
 
Kathy:

Thanks for sharing your experience with the members of this board.

Even those of us who are not presently looking for a job appreciate having some of these issues clearedup.
 
Thank you Ty for the kind words. :) I am glad that you and many others find the information I provide helpful.

Kathy
 
H.R. Demystification

Resume Writer said:
Thank you Ty for the kind words. :) I am glad that you and many others find the information I provide helpful.

Kathy
Seconded. Your help has been something we have needed here for a long, long time.
 
Just an idea that I use - Instead of putting "references available upon request" at the end of the resume which I think is obvious, I always put "Thank you for your consideration." I always thought it was a nice touch.
 
SpocksBeard said:
Just an idea that I use - Instead of putting "references available upon request" at the end of the resume which I think is obvious, I always put "Thank you for your consideration." I always thought it was a nice touch.
Not bad...but I always put that in the cover letter. Being polite is always a good move. :)

Kathy
 

Latest resources

Back
Top