Including References in Your CV
References help employers learn more about your skills and work ethic and are sometimes part of the hiring process. While it's no longer common practice to list references in your CV unless an employer specifically requests them, there are a few situations when you should include them. In this article, we'll walk you through all of the details on how and when to add references to your CV.
While the hiring process often feels long for job seekers, it's also time-consuming and costly for employers as well. That's why many hiring managers ask about references to be sure they've chosen the right candidate before sending an offer letter.
What is a reference?
Your references are professionals who can vouch for your character, skills and work history to prospective employers.
The testimonial document or written declaration of your character and skills is called a ‘reference’ and the person supplying it is known as the 'referee.' A referee is someone you have worked with and who is happy to be contacted by recruiters to answer questions about your skills and performance in previous jobs.
When to include references in your CV
For most job applications, it’s not necessary to list references on your CV as employers tend to request them in the later stages of the hiring process or just before they make you an offer.
However, there are a few situations where employers expect to see them, or it may be beneficial to include them:
- You live in New Zealand: Many employers in New Zealand will ask to see references, especially if most of your work experience is from overseas. Including references in your CV gives prospective employers a way to verify your work history, skills, and work ethic.
- You live in South Africa: If you live in South Africa, references are usually included in the ‘comprehensive CV’ (an in-depth CV which details your work experience, education and skills). This is sent at the second stage of the application process after you’ve sent a ‘brief profile’ (a one-page summary of your contact details, work experience and education).
- It’s your first job or you have little work experience: If it’s your first job or you have little work experience, recruiters will usually request references or recommendation letters in the early stages of the job application process. Including your references on your CV before recruiters request them speeds up the process and helps them to quickly assess your suitability for the job.
- You have impressive references from professionals in senior positions: If you have a reference from a respectable person such as a senior manager, a CEO, the director of HR, etc., this is likely to impress recruiters and increase your chances of landing an interview.
- The job description instructs you to include them: If the job description explicitly requires you to include references, you should include them. If you don’t have enough space on your CV, you can add them on a separate page.
You can easily add your references to your CV by starting with one of Jobseeker's professional CV templates. To get a head start writing your full CV, search for your job title in our library of examples.
Who to include as a reference
If you choose to include references in your CV, it is recommended that you provide two: one who is your current or previous employer and one who knows you well in a professional capacity. Some examples of individuals who would make good references include:
- Current or former managers
- Supervisors
- Tutors
- Teachers
- Mentors
- Colleagues
- Business partners
Ideally, you should list references that can provide specific feedback about your work rather than give a general recommendation.
You can help your referees provide good references by sending them a checklist of the points you want them to mention such as:
- Name of the company and the length of time worked there
- Their relationship to you
- The team or department you both worked in
- Specific projects you worked on and the outcomes you achieved
- The skills you developed or brought to the table
- Specific accomplishments
It’s best to only include recent references unless the reference from a previous job is particularly relevant to the job you’re applying for.
The risk of including a reference from a position you held five years ago is that the person providing the reference may no longer remember the projects you worked on or how you performed in the job.
For this reason and so that you’re prepared for future job searches, it can be beneficial to review your references list, every now and then, to update, add or remove contacts.
Expert Tip
Since CV space is valuable, you don’t need to list more than two references, unless the job description specifically requests it.
Ask referees for permission
Always ask for permission before including someone as a reference. That way, they can expect to be contacted by employers and can prepare accordingly. Asking also gives you the opportunity to check whether your contact’s details are up-to-date.
When contacting your references, it’s a good idea to frame the request in a way that allows them to decline:
“Would you mind if I put your name down as a reference? I enjoyed working with you and feel that you have a good overview of abilities”.
If your contact takes too long to reply or shows any hesitation, avoid pressuring them and move onto the next one. If your reference is not someone who speaks enthusiastically about your skills and expertise, it’s better to include no reference rather than a lukewarm one.
How to list references on your CV
The ‘References’ section usually goes at the very end of a CV, also depending on the CV design you're using, so that priority is given to your work experience, education, skills and achievements.
Include the following details so that employers know who the referee is, how to contact them and what their relationship is to you:
- Referee’s first and last name
- Job title
- Company name
- Referee’s work phone number (extension code, if applicable)
- Referee’s professional email address
- Relationship to you, e.g. manager
Here's an example of a references section on a CV:
References
Jane Smith
Senior Marketing Manager
BrightWave Solutions
Phone: (555) 123-4567 ext. 204
Email: jane.smith@example.com
Relationship: Direct Manager
Michael Chen
Director of Operations
Northline Technologies
Phone: (555) 987-6543
Email: michael.chen@example.com
Relationship: Cross-functional Team Lead
Checking references
It’s important to note that prospective employers are not allowed to check without your permission. This means that they are not allowed to approach your LinkedIn connections to try to elicit information about you.
The same anti-discrimination laws that apply to employment also apply to reference checking - employers are prohibited from requesting information about your age, marital status, ethnicity, sexuality or anything else that does not relate to how you performed in a previous job.
That said, by listing references in your CV, you imply that you have provided consent. Therefore, you may not want to add your current employer as a reference if you haven’t notified them about your job search.
If in doubt, leave references off your CV
The average CV is usually only 2 A4 pages long. Therefore, if you’re in the UK or Ireland and you’re in doubt about whether to list references on your CV, the best course of action is to leave them off your CV and use the space to talk about your skills and experience.
Usually, in the early stages of the application, references will usually not be requested. It can also take a lot of time to find two referees who can provide relevant references. You may find that the time is better spent working on your job applications.
However, as discussed, if you’re based in New Zealand or South Africa, it’s good practice to include two references in your CV. If you have run out of space on your CV, then it’s fine to include a note along the lines of ‘References available upon request’ and create a separate references page. You can format an attractive and professional references page by using one of Jobseeker's cover letter templates.
Key takeaways for adding references to your CV
In many countries, adding references to your CV when applying for jobs is a thing of the past. However, for job seekers in New Zealand and South Africa, references are still expected in the initial application. There are also certain situations in which a separate references page makes sense, especially for entry-level candidates. For even more expert advice on crafting the perfect application, make sure to check out Jobseeker's resources, including CV and cover letter examples for dozens of job titles.
Impress employers with your CV
Step-by-step guidance to create a professional CV in minutes.
