References on the curriculum vitae

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Inserting your own references on the CV is a common practice in the Anglo-Saxon and American world, but less so in Italy. Does it make sense to include references from former employers, any colleagues or teachers or is it redundant? We will guide you to discover the importance of references for a CV and explain how to insert them correctly on your curriculum vitae when applying for a job position.

CV references, an all-Italian taboo

When we talk about references, we mean all contacts that have had to do with the candidate in a previous job or even school position. These are people who have left a testimony relating to the candidate’s professionalism after being specifically requested and who can be contacted by the candidate’s potential new employer. Inserting the recommendations on the CV is still a taboo in Italy, in the belief that it is redundant and useless information. Actually, inserting an item containing references can enrich your CV and make it more interesting.

What are the advantages of inserting your references on your CV?

There are several advantages linked to mentioning one’s references on the curriculum and already at first glance they all appear understandable. In fact, the references:

  • reassure the employer about the skills and personality of the candidate;
  • show that the candidate has already worked in a similar position;

that the candidate has maintained good relationships in their former company;

In general, good references to amplify a candidate’s profile, giving them a positive image.

How to choose which references to include?

Obviously not all references are the same and for this reason you need to know which ones to include in your CV and why. Always remember that a well-made CV is a coherent CV from the first to the last word and therefore the section dedicated to references must also reflect this characteristic. It goes without saying that references should only be requested from people with whom you have remained in excellent relationships and from people you trust: they can be former colleagues but also a former boss, a human resources manager, a professor and so on. The key is to find a person with whom you have had a certain type of business or academic relationship.

Who to ask for references?

In light of the above, and always keeping in mind the concept of consistency and also CV length, it is good to ask for references only from people who can tell something closely related to the position for which you are applying.

A referral from a former colleague in a company’s purchasing department makes no sense if you’re applying for a position as a gym instructor. Instead, a recommendation from a former colleague or employer in the same sector will have value. References related to extracurricular activities should never be taken into consideration.

It is not necessary to indicate references if you do not have any relevant to the job position for which you are applying.

Make sure you have permission from the people you contacted

When you ask for references to put on your CV, you also need to make sure that the person who has left a comment about you is ready to answer any questions and requests from a recruiter who wants to hire you. Not only that, she must also be willing to share her contacts in order to be contacted again: do not assume that, once you have left the references, the person who wrote them agrees to have them published and above all to be contacted but warn her and ask her expressly for her permission.

We also advise you to be prepared for the call and answer some questions, for example:

  • why did you hire this person?
  • how long have you worked together and what projects have you followed together?
  • what did this person do while working with you?
  • can you list the strengths and weaknesses of this person?
  • tell me something about this person.

Know how to present references on a CV

A clean CV contains the references at the bottom and all the data presented must be clearly visible. Each reference must be accompanied by the name and surname of the person who wrote it, his job position and his contact details. To avoid filling the CV with references, it is a good idea to add the words “Other references on request”.

Remember that if you have decided not to include all the references on the CV, the employer may ask you for the missing references at the time of the interview, so it is your responsibility to have them on hand and notify your contacts of the fact that they could be contacted.

Is it necessary to insert the references on the CV?

No, that’s not necessary. They must be entered only if relevant to the job position for which you are applying and are not mandatory. This means that if they are not required or if they do not have any or if they do not want to leave, it is not necessary to do so.

In summary

  • References in the CV are a great way to get noticed by a recruiter;
  • Choose only people with whom you have had a really profitable professional or academic relationship;
  • Talk to the person you want as a referent and ask if they are from I agree to share your data and possibly be interviewed;
  • If you want to add more references but don’t want to fill the CV too much, add the words “Other references on request”;
  • Ignore the section if you have no references and are not asked for.