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References

People who can vouch for your work. Don't list them on your resume.

References are people — former managers, colleagues, professors, or clients — who can vouch for your professional skills and character. Employers typically ask for references near the end of the hiring process, after they've decided you're a strong candidate but before making an offer.

Don't put references on your resume. Don't even write "References available on request" — it's outdated and wastes a line. Instead, prepare a separate document with 3 to 5 references (name, title, company, email, phone, and how they know you) and send it when asked. Always ask permission from your references before listing them, and give them a heads-up when you're actively job hunting.

Example: A reference document has one reference per block: "Sarah Johnson, Senior Director of Engineering at Acme Corp. sarah@acme.com / (555) 123-4567. Former manager, 2022-2024."

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