Should You Put References on Your CV?
Somewhere near the bottom of countless CVs sits a tired little line. “References available on request.” It has been copied from template to template for decades, and most people add it without ever asking whether it should be there at all.
So, should you put references on your CV? For almost everyone applying for jobs in the UK today, the answer is no, and that outdated line can go too. Here is why the thinking has changed, and how to handle references properly so you are ready the moment an employer asks.
The modern verdict on references
The short version is that references do not belong on your CV, and neither does the phrase telling an employer they are available. This is not a matter of taste. It reflects how hiring actually works now.
References are checked late in the process, usually after an interview and often only once a job offer is on the table or close to it. At the application stage, no recruiter is ringing your former manager. Listing referees at that point offers the employer nothing they need yet, and it hands over other people’s contact details before anyone has asked for them.
Space on a CV is precious. Every line should be selling you. A references section, or a line promising them, uses room that a real achievement could fill. That trade is almost never worth it.
Why “references available on request” is redundant
The phrase itself is the bigger giveaway. Employers already know they can ask for references, because everyone can, and they will when the time comes. Writing it out states the obvious and can make a CV look dated, as though it was built from an old template rather than written fresh for the role.
Think of what those few words could be doing instead. A quantified result. A relevant skill. A line that moves you closer to an interview. Filler that tells the reader something they already assumed is exactly the kind of thing worth cutting, and it sits alongside several other habits worth dropping in our guide on what to avoid when writing a CV.
Remove the line. Nobody will ever notice its absence, and your CV will read as more current for it.
The rare times references do belong
As with most rules, there is an exception, and it comes down to reading the instructions. Occasionally a job advert or application form will specifically ask you to supply references or referee details up front. When an employer asks directly, you provide them, because following the brief matters more than the general convention.
This is most common in certain sectors, such as some public sector, education and healthcare roles, where structured application forms request referees as standard. If you are asked, give what is requested and make sure the details are accurate. If you are not asked, leave them off.
The principle is straightforward. Default to no references on your CV, and include them only when an employer explicitly requests them.
Line up your referees before you apply
Leaving references off your CV does not mean ignoring them. Quite the opposite. The smart move is to have them ready in the background so that when an employer does ask, you can respond within the hour rather than scrambling.
Before you start applying, sort out the following:
- Choose two suitable referees. Usually a recent line manager and one other professional contact who knows your work well.
- Ask their permission. Never list someone who does not know they might be contacted. It is unfair to them and risks a lukewarm reference.
- Confirm their details. Get the correct name, job title, company, email and phone number, and check the spelling.
- Give them a heads-up when you are job hunting. A referee who is expecting a call gives a warmer, sharper reference than one caught by surprise.
Keep this information in a simple separate document, ready to send the moment it is requested. That readiness is what actually helps you, far more than a line on your CV ever could.
Choosing the right people
A strong referee is someone who can speak specifically and positively about how you work, not just confirm that you were employed. A recent manager who saw your results is worth far more than a senior name who barely knew you. Where you can, choose people whose comments will echo the strengths your CV and interview have already promised.
What to do with the space instead
Once you have freed up the room where references used to sit, put it to work. The bottom of your CV is still valuable real estate. Depending on your situation, that space might carry an extra achievement in your most recent role, a relevant qualification, or a short section that genuinely strengthens your case.
If you are not sure what deserves that place, it helps to step back and look at the CV as a whole. Our guide on what to include in a CV walks through the sections that earn their keep, so nothing on your page is there out of habit alone.
The question of references on a CV turns out to be one of the easiest wins in a job search. Leave them off, drop the outdated line, and quietly line up your referees so you are ready when it counts. If you would like a professional to make sure every line of your CV is pulling its weight, our writers know exactly what to keep and what to cut. Let our specialists rework your CV so it opens with your strengths and wastes nothing at the end.
