References on a CV: What to Include (and When)

In most cases you should not put references on a CV. Employers ask for them later, usually after an interview or just before an offer, so the smart move is to have them ready and share them when requested. That keeps your CV focused on the thing that actually gets you the interview: your experience.

Below is how to handle references properly, from who to ask to exactly what to send when the request lands in your inbox.

Should you include references on a CV?

Almost never. Space on a CV is limited, and every line should help a recruiter decide to call you. A referee's contact details do not do that, because nobody phones your old boss before they have decided you are interesting.

There is also a privacy issue. Putting someone's name, employer, and phone number on a document you email to dozens of companies shares their details far more widely than they agreed to. Some referees will be annoyed, and an annoyed referee is not a helpful one.

The main exceptions are academic and research posts, some public sector roles, and application forms that explicitly ask for referees. If the job advert or form asks, include them. Otherwise, leave them out and use the space for results.

Why "references available on request" wastes space

It is the most common filler line on a CV, and it says nothing. Every employer already knows you will supply references if they ask, so the sentence carries zero new information.

It also signals padding. A recruiter who sees that line at the bottom of a thin CV reads it as "I ran out of things to say." Delete it and put an achievement there instead. It is one of the quickest wins in our guide to CV mistakes to avoid.

Who makes a good reference?

The best referee is someone who directly saw your work, can describe it in specifics, and will reply quickly. Recency and relevance matter more than seniority, so a supervisor who managed you last year beats a director who barely remembers you.

Good options include:

• A former line manager or supervisor — the strongest choice, because they can talk about your performance, reliability, and growth.
• A senior colleague or team lead — useful when your manager has left the company or you cannot reach them.
• A client or customer — excellent for freelance, sales, and agency work, as they can speak to results and professionalism.
• A project lead or cross-team collaborator — good when your best work happened outside your direct reporting line.
• A tutor, lecturer, or placement supervisor — sensible for students and recent graduates with little paid experience.
• A volunteer coordinator or society lead — a fair substitute when your strongest examples come from unpaid work.

Avoid family members and close friends. Employers discount them immediately, and using one can make it look like you had no professional option.

How to ask someone to be your reference

Ask first, always. A referee who is caught off guard by a phone call gives a vague, hesitant answer, and hesitation reads as doubt.

Contact them before you start applying, or as soon as you know a reference check is coming. Keep the message short, remind them what you worked on together, and make it easy for them to say no.

Then give them context: the role you are going for, the company, and one or two things you would love them to mention, such as a project you led or a skill the job needs. You are not scripting them. You are helping them remember the right details.

Finally, confirm how they prefer to be contacted and tell them roughly when to expect the call or email. Follow up afterwards with a thank you, whatever the outcome.

What to send when references are requested

Send a separate reference sheet as a PDF, styled to match your CV so it looks like part of the same set. Put your name and contact details at the top, then a clear heading, then your referees.

For each person, include their full name, job title, company, how you know them, and their preferred contact details. Add a single line on your working relationship so the employer knows what that referee can speak to.

Here is what one correctly formatted entry looks like:

Sarah Whitfield Marketing Manager, Northbridge Media Direct line manager, March 2023 – August 2025 sarah.whitfield@northbridgemedia.example +44 20 7946 0812

And here is how a short reference list is laid out:

References — James Okafor

Sarah Whitfield — Marketing Manager, Northbridge Media Direct line manager, 2023–2025 · sarah.whitfield@northbridgemedia.example

Daniel Reyes — Senior Designer, Northbridge Media Worked together on the 2024 rebrand · daniel.reyes@northbridgemedia.example

Priya Nair — Founder, Nair Consulting Freelance client, 2022–2024 · priya@nairconsulting.example

Keep the sheet to one page. Two or three referees is plenty unless the employer asks for a set number.

Character references vs professional references

A professional reference comes from someone who has seen you work and can comment on your performance, skills, and reliability. This is what employers want by default.

A character reference, sometimes called a personal reference, comes from someone who knows you outside work, such as a coach, mentor, community leader, or long-standing volunteer contact. It speaks to your integrity and behaviour rather than your job performance.

Use character references only when you genuinely have no professional option, such as a first job or a long career break, or when the employer specifically asks for one. Even then, choose someone with standing in an organisation or community rather than a friend.

What if you cannot use your current employer?

This is very common, and employers expect it. Nobody assumes you have told your boss you are job hunting.

Say so politely and early. A line like "I would prefer my current employer is only contacted after an offer is made" is completely normal and rarely causes a problem.

In the meantime, offer alternatives: a previous manager, a colleague who has since left, a client, or a contractor you worked alongside. If your last role ended badly, pick a different person from that company rather than skipping the employer altogether, because a gap in the reference chain draws more attention than a sideways choice.

Some large companies only confirm dates and job titles as a matter of policy. If that is the case, tell the employer up front so they are not surprised by a bare response.

Key takeaways

• Do not list references on a CV unless the job advert or application form asks for them.
• Delete "references available on request" and use that line for an achievement instead.
• Line up two or three referees before you apply, and always ask their permission first.
• Prepare a separate, matching reference sheet with name, title, company, relationship, and contact details.
• If you cannot use your current employer, say so early and offer a former manager, colleague, or client instead.

Get the CV right first, and references become a formality at the end of a process you are already winning. Build your CV free with CVify AI, use the guided steps to turn your experience into clear, results-led bullet points, and keep the space you would have wasted on referee details. If you are starting from scratch, our guide on how to write a CV walks you through every section in order.