Conference kaosws::canada

    In canada, you will encounter both the long and the short formats.
    
    The format I have used (successfully) in the past is:
    
    1 - Handwritten Cover Letter
    2 - 2 page(max.) - 'functional' resume (What I can do, have done, *brief*
    summary of previous employment & education (Name & Address of employer
    and position held)
    
    with the line "References and detailed CV supplied upon request".
    
    these go in the initial 'cold' contact. 
    
    3- References sheet, up to date with names, addresses, phone, and
    relationship (ie. friend, colleague, etc), and field or aspect where
    this persons reference is relavant.
    4- Detailed Curriculum Vitae, with a paragraph describing each position
    held, employer info, school and course contents, etc. in chronological
    order (most recent back to University).
    
    If I have already made contact with a prospective employer (ie. at a
    trade show, or through a friend, etc.) I will still write a cover
    letter - making sure to acknowledge the prior contact in it, and
    include *all* of the other 3 documents, as well.
    
    The primary reason for sending a minimally sized resume at the original
    'cold' contacting is to ensure that a) the things *you* want to
    emphasize are not buried, and B) to ensure that the reviewer doesn't
    just discard your papers at 5 minutes to lunch, or closing time, or
    whatever, or has a headache, etc. etc.
    
    I even got 3 or 4 rejection letters where the reviewers *thanked* me for
    the format, it helped them to quickly decide how appropriate I was for
    the position in question.
    
    In the case with digital, it got me a long distance phone call at supper
    time, when the reviewer was staying late looking over resumes, and
    perked her interest enough to request the further documents. I got the
    job (as you can see).
    
    Scooter
    

    I used to have responsibility for hiring in a former job, and one
    thing that annoyed me no end on a resume was "References suppled
    upon request".
    
    I far preferred to see the names of the references offered up front ... 
    I see no reason to say that you have references and then not give them.  
    I also like to see the relationship between the applicant and reference so
    I can tell if it is a character reference or work reference.  If you
    have letters of reference you could offer those as available on request
    but indicate who they are from.
    
    Stuart

    
>    I far preferred to see the names of the references offered up front ... 
>    I see no reason to say that you have references and then not give them.  
 
	Many people will be happy to give their boss as a reference - when it 
	looks likely they will be offered the job - many people don't want the 
	people in work to know they are looking around.
	
	If they don't get a new job, or they change their mind about leaving, 
	then they may have hampered their promotional prospects.

	Heather

    Normally, if one gives a current employer as a reference (and is
    so indicated) it is never taken up, unless the applicant has given
    specific written permission to do so (and just including his /her 
    name in a list of references is not considered permission)
    
    Stuart

	Maybe, but I do know of people who's references have been taken
	up, WITHOUT them being asked, and before an interview........

	Some people are just careful with their referees

	Heather

    My reason for not giving reference names unless specifically requested
    is simple:
    
    When a prospective employer requests the names, I then inform each and
    every person on the list that someone from company X will be contacting
    them for employment references. It is the polite and courteous thing to
    do. I use their names by their good graces only, and wish it to remain
    so. There are many ways these list can be abused - like by headhunters,
    for example.
    
    Scooter

    Re .5 
    
    In that case, I can only suggest that the prospective employers
    were abusing their rights and that if such a situation gets you in
    hot water with your current employer, then you have a valid
    grievance against them.
    
    Re .6
    
    I always ask the people I list as references for their permission
    before a round of job hunting ... but not on an application by
    application basis ... it would just get too complex and long and
    involved, especially with references on both sides of the Atlantic.
    
    Strangely, only rarely have I had references taken up any way, and
    I have never had references abused.
    
    Stuart
    

>    Re .5 
>    
>    In that case, I can only suggest that the prospective employers
>    were abusing their rights and that if such a situation gets you in
>    hot water with your current employer, then you have a valid
>    grievance against them.
 
	So whay do you do, sue the person who took up references for the future
	impact on your promotion prospects if you remain in your current job?

	It's a bit late after-the-fact, I know people who were burnt this
	way, and it definately puts you off naming the referees   

	Heather