Before you apply, get a free expert review of your resume within 48 hours. See exactly what is holding it back, with an ATS check and real rewrite examples. No credit card, no obligation.
Get my free resume reviewKey takeaways
- References on a resume are optional. Leave them off the resume itself and keep them on a separate reference page, ready to send when an employer asks.
- Skip “references available upon request.” Employers assume you will provide them, so the line only wastes space.
- Choose two or three professional references who have seen your work, such as managers, colleagues, clients, or professors, and always ask permission first.
- Download our free reference page template and match it to your resume.
References on a resume are optional, and in most cases you should leave them off and prepare a separate reference page to share when an employer asks. Your resume’s limited space is better spent proving you can do the job.
This guide explains whether to include references, why “references available upon request” is outdated, who to choose, what a reference page should include, and how to ask. For the whole document, see our guide on how to write a resume.
So, do references go on your resume?
References typically come late in hiring, often after a final interview and before an offer. Holding them back also protects your contacts from repeated calls and lets you brief each one for the specific job.
The exception is a job posting that explicitly asks for references with your application. Follow its instructions exactly, which may mean attaching a reference page or filling in a form.
Drop “references available upon request”
It is outdated and unnecessary, so skip it. Employers already assume you will provide references if they ask, and the line wastes space that could hold a keyword or an achievement.
| Outdated habit | Why it fails | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| “References available upon request” | States the obvious and uses a line of valuable space | Delete it and use the space for a result or keyword |
| Listing names and phone numbers on the resume | Takes space and shares contact details with every recruiter | Keep contacts on a separate reference page |
| Listing family or friends | Not credible as professional evidence | Choose managers, colleagues, clients, or professors |
| Sending references before anyone asks | Exposes your contacts to unwanted calls | Send the page only when requested |
Build your reference page in five steps
To build a reference page, choose your references, ask permission, match your resume’s header, add each person’s details and your relationship, and brief them before you send the page.
Choose two or three strong references
Pick people who watched you work and can give specific examples. Match them to the type of job when you can.
Do: a former manager and a senior colleague · Not: a friend who never worked with you
Ask permission first
Contact each person, name the role, and make it easy for them to decline. Never list someone without asking.
Do: “Would you be comfortable acting as a reference?” · Not: listing a manager who does not know you applied
Match your resume’s header
Use the same name, contact details, font, and layout, so the page looks like part of one polished application package.
Do: the same name, font, and contact line as your resume · Not: a different design and a different email address
Add each reference’s details
Include name, job title, organization, phone, email, and a one-line note on how you know them. Double-check every digit and spelling.
Do: “Relationship: supervised me for three years” · Not: a name with no context
Brief your references and keep the list current
Share the job description and your resume before you send the page. Update the list as roles and contact details change.
Do: send the job description and resume with a short note · Not: letting a reference be surprised by a call
What goes on the page, plus a free template
A reference page should include the same header as your resume, plus each reference’s name, job title, organization, phone, email, and a one-line note on how you know them. Keep it to one page.
Example reference page layout
[Your Name]
[City, State] | [Phone] | [Email] | [LinkedIn URL]
Professional References
[Reference Name], [Job Title]
[Company]
[Phone] | [Email]
Relationship: [Supervised me for three years at Company]
Repeat for each reference, two or three in total.
Choosing the two or three who vouch for you
Choose people who have directly supervised or worked closely with you and can speak specifically about your results, reliability, and skills. Two or three strong references beat a long list of weak ones.
| Reference type | Best for | What they can speak to |
|---|---|---|
| Current or former manager | Almost every job | Your results, reliability, and growth |
| Senior colleague or peer | Teamwork and technical roles | How you collaborate and solve problems |
| Client or customer | Sales, consulting, and freelance work | Service quality and responsiveness |
| Professor or academic advisor | Students and recent graduates | Research, work ethic, and potential |
| Volunteer coordinator or coach | Limited work history | Reliability, leadership, and character |
Avoid family members, friends who have not worked with you, and anyone who has not agreed. If your search is confidential, tell employers you will share your current manager’s details once you have an offer.
No work history yet? Our guide to using references for your first job covers teachers, coaches, and volunteer supervisors.
Whose word carries the most weight with employers (illustrative)
Employers value people who watched you work. The ranking is directional guidance, not a measured statistic.
Illustrative editorial ranking by the ResumeCroc resume team, not a measured statistic.
When a former manager has moved on
Choose another supervisor, a senior colleague, or a client who saw your work, and update the contact details. Many companies send reference checks to HR, which may confirm only your title and dates, so a personal reference matters.
Stay in touch with former managers and colleagues while you work, not only when you search. A quick note every few months makes a reference easy to ask and happy to say yes.
How to ask without the awkwardness
Ask by email or phone, name the role, give them an easy way to say no, and offer your resume and the job description. Asking first protects the relationship and means your reference is prepared.
What your references will actually be asked
Employers typically ask how long and in what role your reference worked with you, what your strengths are, how reliable you were, and whether they would work with you again. Prepared references give clearer, stronger answers.
| What employers ask | How to help your reference |
|---|---|
| How do you know the candidate, and for how long? | Remind them of dates, your title, and projects you shared |
| What were the candidate’s main responsibilities? | Send your resume and the job description |
| What are the candidate’s strengths? | Suggest two or three results they saw firsthand |
| How reliable and collaborative were they? | Share examples of deadlines met or teams supported |
| Would you work with them again? | Choose people who can say yes with confidence |
Hold the list until an employer asks
Share your references only when an employer asks, which is typically after a final interview and before an offer. Until then, send your resume alone and keep the reference page ready.
“A reference is not a favor you spend once. Brief them, thank them, and tell them how it went, and they will be glad to speak for you again.”
ResumeCroc resume team
Do LinkedIn recommendations count?
They help, but they do not replace a reference page. A LinkedIn recommendation or a reference letter adds credibility, while employers who run formal reference checks still expect to speak with real people.
If a reference offers a letter, keep a copy on hand. Ask for LinkedIn recommendations from people who know your work, and keep your profile consistent with your resume.
References only matter if your resume earns the interview first. Our resume writing service builds achievement-led resumes, and our free review shows what to fix before you apply.
Is your resume ready to earn the interview?
Paste your resume and a job description into our free checker for an instant ATS score, the keywords you are missing, and prioritized fixes, all in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Should references go on a resume?
No. Keep references off your resume and prepare a separate reference page to send when an employer asks. The exception is a job posting that requires references with your application, in which case follow its instructions.
How many references should I have?
Prepare two or three professional references, and check the job posting for a specific number. Most employers ask for two or three. Quality matters more than quantity, so choose people who know your work well.
Who should I use as a reference?
Use current or former managers, senior colleagues, clients, or professors who have seen your work firsthand. Avoid family and friends. Always ask permission first, and brief each person on the job you are applying for.
Is “references available upon request” okay to use?
It is outdated. Employers assume you will provide references if asked, so the line wastes space. Delete it and use the room for a result, keyword, or skill that helps you win the interview.
What information should I include for each reference?
Include their full name, job title, organization, phone number, email address, and a one-line note on how you know them, such as “supervised me for three years.” Use the same header as your resume, and check every detail.
Want an expert to polish your whole application?
Our writers build resumes that beat ATS filters and impress the human reading them. Start with a free, no-obligation expert review of your current resume.
By uploading my resume, I agree to the
