Should You Put "References Available Upon Request" on Your Resume?

Should I Put "References Available Upon Request" on My Resume?

No. The phrase is a closing line that tells an employer you can provide references if they ask, and employers already assume you can. It adds nothing a hiring manager needs, and it takes a line your experience could use. Cut it. For other lines that crowd a resume, see our list of common resume mistakes that hurt your chances.

The same goes for its variations, such as "references furnished upon request," "references provided upon request" and "references available on request." Whether it says "on request" or "upon request," the line means the same thing and doesn't need to be on your resume. If your resume says "portfolio available upon request," replace the line with a link to the portfolio itself, so the employer can see your work without having to ask.

Writing or updating your resume now? Build it without a references section and give that line to a result, a skill or a certification instead.

Is It Legal for Companies to Ask for References?

Yes. An employer can ask for references and contact the people you list, but federal law sets limits. Under the laws the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces, which don't cover every employer, it's illegal to discriminate against a job applicant because of a protected trait such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It's also illegal for an employer to give a negative or false reference, or refuse to give a reference, for any of those reasons.

A background check is a separate step with its own rules. When an employer uses a background reporting company, it must get your written permission first, and before it decides not to hire you because of something in that report, it must give you a copy. The FTC explains your rights when employers run background checks.

If a former employer's HR office confirms only a few facts about you, that's normal. Employment checks usually confirm your dates, your job titles and whether you're eligible for rehire, and leave out your job performance and why you left, according to CareerOneStop's guide to background checks. The people on your reference list are the ones who can speak to how you work.

Why Do Some Companies Ask for References?

Your resume and interview tell an employer what you say about your work. A reference lets them hear it from someone who saw it: how you handle pressure, take feedback and work with others, and whether that person would work with you again. CareerOneStop, the career site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, notes that references from past employers carry the most weight.

Can References Harm My Chances of Getting Hired?

Yes, when a reference is hard to reach, unprepared or out of step with your resume. Here's what can go wrong, and how to prevent it:

• They can't be reached. A reference who misses calls and emails can hold up an offer. Ask each person how and when they prefer to be contacted, and put that on your reference page.
• They sound lukewarm. Someone who barely remembers your work gives the employer little to go on. Choose people who saw your work up close and recently.
• Their account doesn't match yours. If your resume says you led a team and your reference describes you as a solo contributor, the employer will notice. Keep every claim on your resume accurate: CareerOneStop warns that an employer may withdraw an offer when your resume or interview contradicts what a background check finds.
• They don't know about the job. A reference who hasn't seen the posting can only speak in general terms. Brief each person before the employer calls; the sample message below shows how.

How Do Employers Contact References?

Usually by phone or email, often late in the hiring process. Some employers use an online reference-check service that emails each person a short questionnaire instead of calling. Either way, expect the employer to confirm how the reference knows you, then ask about your work: your strengths, how you handled a hard situation, and whether they'd hire you again.

An employer may also ask for each reference's occupation, how long you've known each other and how you worked together, so put those details on your reference page. For the employer's side of the process, SHRM's toolkit on how HR teams conduct reference checks is written for the people making those calls.

Should I Avoid Including References on My Resume?

Yes. Keep your references' names and contact details off your resume. You upload a resume to job sites and application systems, and it may be passed around a hiring team, so their phone numbers and emails could reach people they never agreed to hear from. A separate list also lets you decide when it goes out, so you can warn each person first. References is also on the list of sections to cut in our guide to the resume headers you should include — and the ones to leave out.

The exception is a posting or application that asks for references up front. The table above shows how to send them.

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Build a resume around your results and skills, and keep your references on their own page.

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What Should I Do if an Employer Asks for References?

Send a reference page, separate from your resume. Head it with the same name and contact details as your resume and a title such as "Professional References." Then list each person with:

• Their full name
• Their job title and company, plus where you worked together if that's somewhere else
• The phone number and email address they asked you to share
• How you know each other: your working relationship and how long you worked together

Illustrative example: [Full name], [Job title], [Company] | [Phone] | [Email] | My direct supervisor at [Company], [Month Year] to [Month Year]

Line up a few more people than you expect to need, so you can choose the ones whose work with you best fits each job. Send as many as the employer asks for, and put the person who knows your recent work best at the top. Your reference list is on our checklist of what to bring to an interview.

How Do I Choose a Good Reference?

Choose people who know your work firsthand and will speak about it honestly. A mix of viewpoints shows the employer how you work with people above you, beside you and outside your team:

• A manager or supervisor who directed your work and can speak to your results and reliability.
• A coworker or client who worked with you day to day and can describe how you collaborate.
• Someone from another team who saw you work across groups, if you have that kind of contact.
• A teacher, coach or volunteer coordinator if you're a student or recent graduate with little paid work.

Pick people who worked with you recently and who can speak to the skills the new job needs. Skip family members and close friends: an employer wants someone who can speak about your work objectively.

Do I Need to Ask Someone to Be My Reference?

Yes, always. Ask before you give anyone's name to an employer, and ask how they'd like to be contacted and which phone number or email you may share. A reference who expects the call gives a clearer, warmer answer than someone caught off guard.

A short message is enough. This illustrative example shows what to include:

Hi [Name], I'm applying for a [job title] role at [Company], and I'd like to list you as a reference. You saw my work on [project] up close, and that's the kind of work this job involves. Would you be comfortable talking with their hiring team? If so, which phone number or email should I share? I'll send you the job description and my resume.

When someone agrees, send what you promised so they can answer specific questions, tell them when to expect a call, and thank them afterward, whatever the outcome.

What If I Don’t Have or Can’t Find Good References?

Look beyond your last manager. CareerOneStop counts coworkers, people you supervised and clients as employment references, along with people you've done volunteer work, babysitting, lawn mowing or other odd jobs for. Instructors can speak for current students and recent graduates. Use a personal reference, someone who knows you outside work, only when you don't have the other kinds.

• Your old manager has moved on. Look them up on a professional network, or ask a former coworker who kept in touch with them.
• A job ended badly. Ask a coworker or client from that job instead of the manager.
• You freelance or work gigs. Long-term clients and the people who hired you for projects can speak to your work.
• This is your first job. Teachers, coaches and volunteer coordinators count. Our guide to writing a resume with no experience shows how to present the school and volunteer work they can vouch for.

Keeping the Focus on the Resume

Your resume's job is to get you to the interview; your references back it up later. Use the line a references footer would take for something an employer can act on, such as a measurable result or a skill the posting asks for. Our guide to what to include in a resume covers the sections that still earn their place.

When you're ready to write, see how Rocket Resume works.