curriculum vitae

bluebeary

im updating my cv and have a couple of questions regarding references please

what if you have worked some place for nine years and can only provide one reference, who do you ask for the second refernece from ?

previous employments no longer existant and the only other one still in existance is about fifteen years ago and probably dont even have the same management staff as when i was there

do you ask the hr manager or senior manager to provide a reference, taking into consideration the hr manager barely knows me and ive known the senior manager for several years

the whole, references available on request, what does that mean exactly ?

that you will give your reference details with further correspondance, at an interview or actually have them in an envelope ?

surely its better just to include the contact details on your cv ?

feelex

When my partner was on his SIA course at college, the tutor wrote CVs professionally and offered to take a look at ours.
She told us you should never put references on the CV, and only give them when asked by the employer.

bluebeary

cool, thanks, its just that i am aware that ideally your cv should be one page but unfortunately its turned into a page and half and im thinking to have the reference details would pad out the second page a little bit more ?

feelex

Mine is actually two pages long as I've written a description of what skills I used in previous employment etc, but I just made sure it is exactly two pages long and doesn't have half a page blank or anything. Maybe you could go back over the jobs/courses you've listed and where you've listed your previous duties you could say what skills you used (problem solving, organisation etc) or what personal qualities you learned from that role (time-keeping, staying calm in a stressful situation, things like that). Hope that helps!

saintjammyswine

On my Cv I just state that references are available on request, I dont include details of who they are as my CV could find its way in front of many people and I dont think its right to share other people's details indiscriminately. I would see if you could get a personal reference from someone in a professional position.

feelex

saintjammyswine wrote: »

On my Cv I just state that references are available on request, I dont include details of who they are as my CV could find its way in front of many people and I dont think its right to share other people's details indiscriminately. I would see if you could get a personal reference from someone in a professional position.

That's the exact reason the woman gave us for not including it - you're giving a complete stranger someone's name, address and job title. Amazing what someone can do with that if it falls into the wrong hands.

bluebeary

saintjammyswine wrote: »

On my Cv I just state that references are available on request, I dont include details of who they are as my CV could find its way in front of many people and I dont think its right to share other people's details indiscriminately. I would see if you could get a personal reference from someone in a professional position.

good point, ill stick to available on request then, thanks both of you x

saintjammyswine

Also, as long as the information on the CV is relevant then 2 pages is pretty much standard, depending on how much experience or education you have.

bluebeary

i think it is, id like to include it all, my work history because im looking for various types of jobs

ive got my personal details centred up the top, then personal profile, key skills, then work history (4 jobs in all) then education and training (2 places, school and fe college with qualifications)

its all pretty short, sweet and to the point, no rambling, just relevant information in my work history

saintjammyswine

With the different jobs and looking for various job types do you alter the CV depending on which type you are going for?
It might be worth having 4 different Cvs each highlighting the relevant previous job and summarising the others.
You can then send the relevant CV for that type of job.
It may give you an edge as it will highlight more relevant exeprience.

InsideInsurance

I wouldn't mention references in any way shape or form. If they want them they will ask you for them, it goes without saying.

As to who you can use when you do get asked for them, that will depend on what the company asks for. Normally they will ask for a reference from your current/ last employer - generally give the name of your line manager, if the company policy is that they cannot give references then they should automatically pass it to HR or whoever is authorised to.

Who a company will accept as the second reference, if they want one, can very massively from company to company and also depending on your situation. Generally its easier to cross the bridge when you get to it but if no one else can give you a professional reference then they may accept a personal reference from someone like a "senior" work colleague or a "professional" friend. Again it depends on the quesions, if it is a simple set of factual data (days of sick, days late, disciplinary history) then it wouldnt work, if they want a statement/ opinion then it can.