CV

[sidey]

I am applying for a maternity assistant post and need to write a CV. The problem is who do I put as referees? I can put my old employer but who else? Can I put friends down?
Emma

I'd try to find someone who knows you in any kind of professional capacity rather than friends. Ever done any voluntary work/committees/playgroup/stuff like that? If not former employers, even old tutors if not too far back into history.

No I left school, went to work (who will be 1 referee) had my child and thats it. I have only been left work 2 years and I was there for 4 years and before that I was still at school (I'm 24), so I don't really know who to put down

I'd put two poeple from previous employment then. line manager and boss, or someone else senior who knows you were good. good luck!

Sidey, unless they have specifically asked for referees at this stage, you can just write "references available on request" on the CV itself. That's then one bit of the CV you don't have to worry about keeping up-to-date!

With regards to having a friend as a referee; that's fine as long as you make it clear it is a personal reference. The reference will generally carry more weight if they hold a professional post ie teacher, lawyer, doctor etc, are a director of a company, or work in a similar industry to the one you are applying for, although anyone who has known you for a while and can vouch for you can be a referee.

I used to be a recruitment consultant, and helped a lot of people redo CVs as part of my job!