I have not worked for a paying job almost 6 years. This past year I have subbed a few times at my daughter's preschool. Now our pediatrician has asked if I could come in a few times during the week to work at their office. I'm so thrilled since I use to work for doctors before becoming a mom. As I sit here & make out a resume (just for the Dr. to keep on file) I'm lost. I realized I hadn't updated my resume since I last worked & not sure who to put down for references. I haven't kept in touch with any of my past employers or coworkers. Should I list our preschool & close friends as references (with their permission of course)?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
~K.
Thank you for your advice. I didn't list any references but did list the preschool I have been working with recently.
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You don't need to include references in the resume itself. You could add a note: "References available upon request", but even that's not necessary. Since the doctor's office knows you, I imagine, it's unlikely they'll ask for references. But, in the meantime, you can check with folks at preschool, church or whereever you might have volunteered/interacted and ask a few folks if they would mind being a reference should the need arise.
There are several reasons you don't want to include contacts/references in the body of the resume: 1. contact information changes and it would look really bad for a potential employer to call a number and not have the right person be there 2. You really might want to provide different references depending upon the nature of the job for which you're applying. It's also not too late to try to find folks that you've previously worked with - it never hurts to network.
I would use references from the preschool. I haven't actually had to build another resume yet and I know it will probably be a challenge when I do, but it's fine to say that you took time off to have your kids. If you did any volunteer work in that time, include that (even if it was as "class mom" for kiddo's school). It is okay to include friends as references, but I'm not sure what any employer would really glean from that (since they're your friends and they weren't involved in your work history). I don't think you need extensive references. If you have one or two from the preschool, just put those down. If they have already offered you the job, then it may not be that formal. This should be a great opportunity for you to get some new stuff on the resume though! Congrats!
I would get a list of references together. Definitely include the preschool, volunteer work, and use that as an excuse to contact folks from 6 years ago who you might like to get back in touch with.
But I wouldn't put references on the resume. If they want that information, they will ask for it.
Dear K.:
I would. As long as you are truthful, you can put anything on your resume. I would mention a 6-year-break from work to raise the kids until they are in regular school, so you make it clear it was a choice rather than a bad experience at work.
If the reader of the resume does not care, he'll skip over the data you provide, but if you don't mention it, information gets lost for those who do care.
Regards,
W.
