Should You Put References on a Resume? Here's the Answer

The Short Answer: No

Do not put references on your resume. This is one of the most common resume mistakes, and it wastes valuable space that could be used to highlight your skills and achievements.

The line "References available upon request" is also unnecessary. Employers already assume you will provide references if asked. Including that phrase just takes up room and dates your resume.

Why References Do Not Belong on Your Resume

Space is precious. Your resume should be 1-2 pages maximum. Every line needs to serve the purpose of getting you an interview. A list of 3 references with contact information takes up 6-8 lines that could instead hold 3-4 achievement bullet points.

Privacy concerns. Putting someone's phone number and email on a document that gets uploaded to dozens of job portals and ATS databases is a bad practice. Your references did not consent to having their contact information circulated widely.

Timing is wrong. References are checked late in the hiring process, usually after at least one interview. Including them upfront is like bringing your passport to a first date -- technically useful information, but premature.

ATS systems do not care. Applicant Tracking Systems score your resume based on skills, experience, and keywords. References contribute nothing to your ATS score.

When References Actually Matter

References typically come into play at two points:

1. After the interview stage -- the employer likes you and wants to verify your background before making an offer
2. When explicitly requested -- some job applications specifically ask for references upfront, in which case you should provide them in the format they request (usually a separate document or form)

How to Prepare Your References

Even though references do not go on your resume, you should have them ready. Here is how to prepare:

Choose the Right People

Pick 3-5 references who can speak to your work quality:

• Former managers (most valuable -- hiring managers want to hear from people who supervised you)
• Senior colleagues who worked closely with you
• Clients or stakeholders you delivered results for
• Professors or mentors (for entry-level candidates)

Avoid listing friends, family members, or people who only know you personally.

Ask Permission First

Never list someone as a reference without asking. Send a brief message:

"Hi Sarah, I am currently interviewing for a Senior PM role at Stripe. Would you be comfortable serving as a professional reference? They would likely ask about our work together on the payments migration project."

This also gives them context so they can prepare relevant talking points.

Create a Separate Reference Sheet

When the time comes to share references, have a clean document ready:

Your Name Phone | Email | LinkedIn

Reference 1 Jane Smith, VP of Engineering Acme Corp jane.smith@acme.com | (555) 123-4567 Relationship: Direct manager for 3 years

Reference 2 John Doe, Senior Product Manager Tech Co john.doe@techco.com | (555) 987-6543 Relationship: Cross-functional project lead

Keep it formatted consistently and include the relationship context so the employer knows why each person is relevant.

What to Put on Your Resume Instead

Use the space you saved by removing references to add content that actually gets you interviews:

• An additional achievement bullet point with quantified results
• A relevant certification or course
• A technical skill that matches the job description
• A stronger professional summary with targeted keywords

Every line on your resume should answer the question: "Does this help me get an interview?" References do not. Achievements do.

Make Every Line Count

If you want to make sure your resume is using space effectively and passing ATS screening, try our free ATS checker. It will show you whether your content is optimized for the job you are targeting. And if you want to generate a fully optimized resume from scratch, ResumeSnap builds one in 60 seconds -- with no wasted space on references.

Keep your references ready. Keep them off your resume. Use that space to show why you are worth hiring.