Ask a Resume Writer: Should I Put References on My Resume?

In addition to a resume and cover letter, many employers also ask job seekers to supply a list of professional and/or personal references at some point in the hiring process. It’s a good idea to have your references list ready to go before you start your job search, and to keep in touch with those contacts regularly so they can help you put your best foot forward.

When considering how to list references, should you include references on your resume itself? Or should there be no references on a resume? We turned to Erin Steiner, one of iHire’s certified resume writers, to find out.

Should You Include References on Your Resume?

“No, references do not belong on your resume, and there are multiple reasons why,” said Steiner. “One, your resume should focus entirely on your skills, experience, and qualifications and generally be within two pages. Including references will likely make that impossible. Two, it’s best to provide references only when asked and in a separate document so you can protect your references’ contact information.”

If you make your resume searchable by employers, which is a great way to increase your exposure if you’re not running a confidential job search, you don’t want your references’ information out there for anyone to access.

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How to List References

“When you create your separate document for professional references, use the same font and overall style as your resume for consistency,” suggested Steiner. “For each individual, include their name, job title, company, phone number, and email address.”

Download our free templates for writing a references page to save time and ensure you create a clean, simple, and straightforward document.

Resume “References Available Upon Request”

Now that we know that there should be no references on a resume, should job seekers still end their resumes with a line like, “References Available Upon Request”?

“You don’t need to add that phrase to your resume either,” Steiner advised. “It doesn’t add anything to your document, and employers know you’ll provide references when they ask for them.”

Get even more expert advice from our certified resume writers, and explore our professional writing services if you’re interested in working with us on your resume or cover letter.