Resume Dilema

Hocky27

I have created a resume with the help of a friend but I don't know who to put down as referees. I havent had a job before and I dont really know any of my lecturers/tutors at uni so thats out of the question. Who should I then be putting down as my 2 referees ?

defreak

The employer generally wants references/recommendations from the person who immediately supervises you. If you never had a job before, like you just graduated, then they'll be looking for your professors to be your references, you sure you can't reference any of your professors?

I would suggest doing some volunteer work, since you should be able to get one immediately, and you'll almost always have someone to report to, after a couple of weeks then you can use that person as a reference.

I wouldn't put any non-professional references, generally those don't help you.

Hocky27

Well I am still in Uni and only in my 2nd week of the semester so I dont know any of my lecturers/tutors well enough that I would ask them to be a referee for me.

I will however try and find some volunteer work to do.

BobCesca

Hocky27 wrote: »

Well I am still in Uni and only in my 2nd week of the semester so I dont know any of my lecturers/tutors well enough that I would ask them to be a referee for me.

I will however try and find some volunteer work to do.

Ask your personal tutor or whichever academic you might legitimately have contact with on a pastoral basis. If they're really stuck what to write (and they usually have a standard "ex is my awesome student" thing) then they will ask.

Kalkino

Go back a level to high school perhaps, assuming you are recently out of school. Or you may just have to go with personal references, such as a generic respectable adult in your community or an older friend.

The LandoStander

Now would be a good time to start building a sort of working relationship with your professors. If you don't feel comfortable asking them flat out to be references on your resume I'd make due with perhaps an old high school guidance counselor etc.

Looking to the long term, once you're out of University then your professors will be of immense help whether you're going on to graduate school or into a career. So make sure to ask questions, hang around after class for awhile if your schedule allows for it and just discuss the material that the professor went over. If they deal with research, ask them about it, maybe even offer to help them in their lab/experiments if they conduct them. This not only gives you a better reference but also valuable experience that you can add to that resume.

EskimoDave

I doubt it will matter as you have no work experience.

Wylderneedshelp

My only references are my current employers, and when I'm interviewing behind their back I obviously don't want random prospective employers calling and asking about me. So I just write as the last line on my resume:

References available on request.

This is not unusual, and it means they have to ask you for them. This gives you the chance to explain that this is your first job, so no employment references exist. But that you have a range of personal and academic references prepared (You will, right?) and you can ask them who they would prefer to contact.

Its easy, and it allows you to explain your position without seeming like your dodging.

Brodo Faggins

Out of curiosity, what job are you applying for? If it's a job on-campus, generally this kind of thing won't matter.