A guide to resumé references

If you’re a job seeker hoping to impress a hiring manager, it’s important to have references who can vouch for you. While references might not be the first thing a potential employer looks at, they provide valuable insights into your qualifications, skills and work ethic.

For many employers, references are an essential part of the hiring process, whether they’re vouching for your work experience, your qualifications or your character. In this article, discover the basics of resumé references, including how many references to include, where to put them, how to format them and other best practices for listing resumé references.

What are resumé references?

Resumé references are people you trust to vouch for you. They’re contacts potential employers can call to verify your performance, get insights into your character and follow up on other skills or knowledge that could be relevant to a position you’re applying for. A hiring manager will generally contact your references during the final stages of the hiring process. Your references are there to confirm that the positive attributes you’ve demonstrated during the interview process are genuine.

Academic references

If you’re still in the early stages of your career or you’re applying for a job in academia, you may want to include the contact details of a former teacher, tutor or professor. They’ll speak to your academic achievements, work ethic, aptitude for technical subjects and any relevant projects or coursework.

Professional references

Professional or work referees are people you’ve worked with in a professional setting. Typically, these are managers or supervisors, but you could also use colleagues and team members as referees. Your professional references should be able to provide insight into your skills, knowledge and experience on the job. 

Character references

If you don’t have any suitable professional or academic references, you may be able to call on a character reference instead. Character or personal referees can include almost anyone, like family friends, neighbours, community leaders or someone from your hobby group or sports team. Character references provide information on your personality, vouching for your integrity and other positive qualities that might be relevant to the job. The character reference provides insight into your traits from a person who knows you outside the workplace.

When choosing your referees, it’s important to include people who’ll provide a positive and professional opinion of your abilities. Make sure to get their permission before passing their details on to a recruiter. It’s also a good idea to give all your referees a rundown of the position you’re applying for, so they can tailor their responses accordingly.

Do you still need to list references on a CV?

Unless you’ve been specifically asked to include references on your resumé, there’s usually no need to list them. Reference lists take up precious space on your resumé, which can be put to better use covering your skills and work experience. Recruiters will request a list of references if they require one. With this in mind, you should have a nicely formatted list of referees ready to go when they’re requested by a hiring manager. 

You can show the hiring manager you have a list of references by stating “References available on request” on your resumé.  

How many references for a resumé?

There are a few different factors to consider when deciding how many references to include in your resumé. If you’re using a recruiter, they can let you know how many they’d ideally prefer. If not, base the number of references you include on your level of experience and career stage. If it’s still early in your career, you might only have one or two professional referees. If you’re applying for a more senior position, you may want to include a variety of referees, who can provide feedback relevant to the different roles you’ve had. 

Generally, between three to five references is enough to give the hiring manager a rounded impression of you. While the recruiter might not contact all of them, it’s still good to provide a number of different options, to give them more choice.

If possible, stick to professional or work referees when it comes to your resumé references. Alternatively, if the recruiter requests you also include a character or academic reference, then be sure to provide a mix and clearly label the different types of references on your list.

How to format your reference list

Formatting your reference list correctly ensures it can be easily understood by the hiring manager. Provided you’ve asked for permission from each of your referees to be included as a reference, the next step is to create a well-presented reference list document. Here are a few key aspects to consider when it comes to formatting your reference list.

Font type

Use a clear, consistent layout and make sure to use the same font type and size throughout your reference list. You might even want to use the same font and formatting to your resumé to keep everything consistent across the board. 

Order of references

When it comes to ordering your references, start with the most relevant referee first  – someone who can vouch for the qualities and experiences listed in the job ad. Alternatively, many people choose to order referees chronologically, starting with the most recent. You could also order them by their level of seniority. For instance, if you have a character reference from a prominent industry figure, you may want to put it at the top. Whatever order you decide, ensure your reference list is clearly written, with the information formatted consistently.

Include relevant information

Unless otherwise specified by the recruiter, you should include the following information for each of your references:

• Name
• Current job title or position
• Company
• Phone number
• Email address
• Description or your working relationship

Including a referee in a resumé – example

Once you’ve gathered all the relevant information and contact details for each of your referees, you can start putting together your reference list document. Here’s how to format the information on your resumé reference list. Start by including your own details so the hiring manager knows exactly who the references are linked to:

[Title of the document]
[Job you are applying for]

[Your name]
[Your phone number]
[Your email address]

Below your personal contact information, list out your referees. Here’s an example of how to format referees in a reference list:

[Reference name]
[Job title]
[Company]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Relationship description]

Here’s a referee resumé example you can use as a template for your own reference list:

REFERENCES FOR JANE SMITH
Applying for the role of Senior Account Manager at Company XYZ

Jane Smith
(07) 1234 5678
[email protected]

REFERENCES

Bill McDonald
Marketing Manager
ABC Marketing
(07) 8765 4321
[email protected]
Bill was my supervisor from 2020–2022 when I worked as a marketing coordinator for ABC Marketing

Jan Jones
Creative Director
XYZ Agency 
(07) 9999 9999
[email protected]
Jan is the department head at XYZ, where I was an account manager from 2017–2020. 

When should you include references on a resumé?

It can often be difficult to fit all the important information on your resumé, especially if you’re trying to include a well-formatted reference list too. Unless the hiring manager has specifically requested you include references on your resumé, you’re better off keeping your referee list separate.

Instead, create a stand-alone reference list document. Keep the document formatting consistent with your resumé and be sure to include any information specifically requested in the job description. If you’ve been asked to include your references on your resumé, list them at the end. 

Best practices when listing references

When it comes to creating a resumé reference list, it’s worth following best practices to ensure you’re making a good first impression:

• Create a separate resumé reference list
• Provide up-to-date information
• Ask your references for permission before including them as a referee
• Provide their full name and other relevant details
• Tailor your references to suit the job
• Include a diverse set of references
• Inform your references in advance so they can prepare for a potential call
• Format your reference list clearly and consistently
• Proofread your reference list to avoid any errors

Your references could be the deciding factor that lands you the job or gets you to the next round of interviews. A good reference should provide a glowing review of your character and abilities to potential employers.

When creating your list of referees, put some time and thought into who’d be most relevant to the job you're applying for. Make sure to get their permission before including them as a referee, and give them a heads up if they should expect a call. By following the best practices for listing references, you’ll have a handy job-seeking tool that you can use for years to come. 

FAQs

How should I format a list of references?

When it comes to formatting your reference list, keep it consistent by using the same font, formatting and styling that you used on your resumé. Make sure to include key information for each reference, including their name, job title, company, contact information and a brief description of your relationship. You can choose to order your list chronologically, alphabetically or by relevance to the position you’re applying for. 

How do you list someone as a reference?

When listing a referee, it’s important to include up-to-date contact information, including their:

• name, 
• role, 
• company, 
• contact details, and 
• a brief note detailing your relationship.

Just make sure you ask for permission before including someone on your reference list, and let them know if they can expect to be contacted so they can prepare accordingly.

How do you ask someone to be a referee?

The best way to ask someone to be a referee is to reach out to them by phone or email. Provide them with a bit of context around the type of role you’re applying for and how you think their insight would be valuable to potential employers. 

If they agree to be a reference, double-check their contact information to include on your reference list. You should also clarify if they have any preferences in terms of how and when they can be contacted. It’s also worth sending them a follow-up thank you email for their willingness to be included as a reference – especially if you get the job!

If a contact declines to be a reference, thank them for their consideration and move on to your next option.

Can you use a referee without notifying them?

In short, no, you shouldn’t use a referee without notifying them or asking their permission. Using someone as a referee without their knowledge could result in confusion and a bad reference. By seeking permission first and preparing your referees for potential enquiries, they’ll be better placed to provide potential employers with a positive recommendation that speaks to the requirements of the job.