Effectively Listing References on Resume [+ Examples & Templates]

Professional references on a resume are a list of people who will provide information about you and your work to potential employers. Employers prefer a list of professional references because they can receive a second view of the value you'll bring to their team from a 3rd party.

Each professional reference can affirm recruiters when it comes to your character, abilities, and work performance. Recruiters want to utilize your references to double-check what you've put on your resume. References on your resume are utilized to verify facts of your job experience and to confirm many of the excellent traits they noticed throughout the interview.

According to resume experts, references should not be included on a resume unless specifically requested by the recruiter. HR departments have many important tasks than going through each candidate's list of resume references, and they typically request professional references only when a candidate is being considered for a job offer. However, this isn't a strict 'no.

Certain job descriptions require their candidates to provide references or testimonials. Notable among them are consulting firms that require candidates to provide testimonials of their performance from their previous firm(s). So, job seekers are allowed to include their references in their resumes in cases like this. References on a resume should only be included when requested. Otherwise, you should consider them to be excluded or kept in a separate document. 

To make it more clear, adding references to a resume is accepted in the following situations:

The recruiter specifically asks for a reference list

If the recruiter demands a reference list or page for a resume, make sure you include it in your application. 

You are applying for jobs in the legal field

If you're applying for a job in the legal field, you can include your reference list in your resume. This helps the recruiter gain insight into the cases you've worked on and the skills you've developed.

Law firms are usually very competitive, so having a list of professional references that shows a high profile of contacts, firms, and skills you've acquired can certainly help you secure the job more quickly.

You are still a student

You can include references on your resume from people such as professors or advisors. It is advisable nowadays that students seek internship opportunities while in school to further boost their employment chances. You can also include the professional networks you established during this time in the reference list on your resume. This is beneficial as you won't solely rely on your university or college for references.

You just graduated

Just like students, fresh graduates can also include their references on a resume.

Many students and fresh graduates often lack substantial work experience and may not have professional contacts who can provide recommendations. As a result, most recruiters are open to allowing this group to include a mix of contacts in their reference list. These could include a favorite professor, a past leader they worked with during school, or a member of a group they led

You still have plenty of space left in your resume

Keep in mind that every word on your resume should hold value and quality. Every bit of free space matters, so you should include a professional reference section or list if necessary.

There are some common ways of listing references on your resume. Here are some things to take in mind when writing references for a resume:

Writing “References available upon request”

This common way of mentioning references on your resume is something you should avoid. Employers already know this and besides, this takes up space in your resume. Don't waste a resume line by saying something that's obvious.

A separate references section at the end of the resume

You can list your references under a separate section on your resume, just like other resume parts (e.g. work experience, skills). When listing references on a resume, make sure to place this section at the end, since other sections are more important. Remember, references on your resume are typically only considered if employers wish to inquire further, such as before proceeding to a job interview stage.

Here is an example of a resume references section:

A separate sheet of reference list

You can dedicate a page for your professional references only if necessary. Here is an example of a resume reference page:

Here are some steps to keep in mind when listing references on a resume:

1. Decide on the number of references to include in the resume reference list

If you make a section for professional references, you may provide 2 or 3 references, depending on how much space you have on your resume. You can provide up to 5 references if you are using a reference sheet. Refer to the resume reference list examples in this article for guidance.

2. Think about networks who can be good references for you

Suitable references for your resume are colleagues, employers, mentors, or professors with whom you had positive relationships. Additionally, think of contacts with whom you established a strong bond and who have praised you for your past accomplishments at work. In contrast, avoid using references with whom you had conflicts or feel are not close enough.

3. Reach out to the people who you want as references

Ask your contacts if they are willing to be listed as references on your resume and request their contact details, including email, phone number, and address.

4. Determine how you want to list the reference on your resume

Lastly, it is up to you if you want to make a section on your resume or provide a separate sheet exclusively for your professional references.

When listing references in your resume, it is vital to have the following elements:

Name

The most basic detail that cannot be missed out on when putting references on a resume. This is how employers know who your contacts are and thus can address them properly (if they want to contact them).

Position and company

For this element, the company name alone is sufficient. Any other details can be shown in the brief description part. 

Address 

List details such as street address and ZIP code to be clear on what branch or office you were employed in.

Phone number

It's your choice whether to include the office number or your contact's cellphone. Ensure that your chosen references are comfortable with this.

Email

Include the work email of your professional references to maintain a professional touch.

Brief description of the referral

Give details of who the referee is and what was your relationship with them in your references on your resume.

Here is an editable resume references format you can freely use:

In this section, here are some more examples of references on a resume. Please take a look at each sample for a better understanding.

Reference in resume for freshers

Here is a resume reference list example for freshers:

Reference in resume for students

Make sure each reference in your resume contains relevant details. Here is an example for students:

Reference in resume from co-workers

The last example provided displays professional references from co-workers.

--- Originally written by Jose Joaquin Rosales ---