Whether to put references on a resume depends mostly on where you are applying. Australian employers commonly expect referees on the page, US and UK employers usually ask for them later, and Indian practice varies by sector. This guide gives you the answer country by country, three formatted examples, who to choose, a message you can send to ask someone, and how to prepare a separate reference list for the moment an employer asks.
The words differ by country. A referee is the person who vouches for you; Australian, British and Indian English all use the word, and Australian resumes usually head the section "Referees". In the US and Canada, the people and the section are both called references. Use the local word in your heading.
"References available on request" is the most debated line on a resume. In the US, the UK and Canada it is now commonly left out, because every employer assumes you can supply references and the line takes space you could give to a result. In Australia it is a normal, accepted alternative to listing names, and in India and the Gulf it is still widely used. If you include it, put it last, on a single line.
One rule applies everywhere: never list someone without asking first. A referee who is surprised by a call gives a hesitant reference, and a hesitant reference can cost you an offer you had already earned.
Even where references usually stay off the resume, there are good reasons to include them:
Leave them off when you are sending your resume to many employers at once, since every copy shares your referees' phone numbers with strangers, and when you haven't yet asked the people concerned. Leave off your current manager, too, if your employer doesn't know you are looking. When a form forces the question, write "Current employer: may be contacted after an offer".
Each reference needs the same details: full name, job title, organisation, city, phone (with the country code if overseas), email, and how they know you, with dates. Here is how entries look on the page in three common situations:
Keep the order of details the same in every entry, use your referee's work email if they prefer it, and check every digit. A wrong number on a reference is a dead end, and recruiters rarely go looking for the right one.
The best referee saw your work closely and recently, and can speak to the job you are applying for. In rough order of weight:
Avoid relatives, friends and anyone who knows you only socially, however impressive their title; a reference that says nothing about your work is a weak one. Pick two or three people who together cover your recent career, and keep one more in reserve for employers who ask for extra. If you are writing a first job resume, a teacher or the manager from a part-time job is a sound choice.
Ask before each job search, and give a heads-up when an employer is about to call. A short message works best:
Then make the reference easy to give:
A referee who knows what the new role needs will mention the right things without prompting, which is worth far more than a polite but generic "yes, they worked here".
In the US and Canada, and often in the UK, you will be asked for references as a separate document. Use the same header as your resume (name, phone, email), a heading such as "Professional References", and three entries in the format above, most relevant first. Name the file clearly, such as "Priya-Nair-References.pdf", and send it only when asked.
What happens next varies. A reference check commonly covers your dates, job title, main duties, strengths, and whether the employer would hire you again. Some large organisations, as a policy, confirm only dates and job title. In India, many companies also run background verification of previous employment and education, and ask for relieving and experience letters from past employers. Australian employers commonly contact two referees near the end of the process, after interviews. Whatever the process, your references should match your resume, which is one more reason to keep job titles and dates exactly as your employers recorded them.
Real careers don't always leave a tidy pair of managers behind. Common problems, and what usually works:
Upload your resume as a PDF, Word file or photo and the AI rebuilds it in a designed template. To add references, add a section and pick the ready-made References section, then fill in your referees or the single line "Available on request". It is a custom section, so you can head it "Referees" for an Australian application. Applying in the US next? Hide the section instead of deleting it, and the details are still there when you need them. Reorder sections so references sit last, switch among 260 designs without retyping, check the ATS score and download a clean PDF.
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Try ResumeInk freeIn the US, the UK and Canada it is usually left out, because employers assume you can provide references. In Australia, India and the Gulf it is still common and accepted, so use it there if you would rather not list names.
Two or three is standard, and Australian resumes commonly list two. Keep one more ready in case an employer asks for extra or a referee is unavailable.
Not as a professional reference. Choose people who supervised or worked with you, such as managers, senior colleagues, clients, professors or volunteer coordinators.
Say so. Note that your current employer may be contacted after an offer, and give a previous manager for now; employers commonly accept this.
Not usually for private-sector jobs, where a resume can end without them. If a form or advert asks, name a project guide, head of department or internship supervisor, with their permission.