Should You Include References on Your CV?

The advice on references has changed significantly over the years, and many candidates are still following outdated conventions. Here is what you actually need to know.

The Modern Consensus: Do Not List References on Your CV

The standard in UK CV writing today is not to list references on your CV at all. The phrase "References available upon request" — once a staple of CV templates — is now considered unnecessary and a waste of valuable space.

Here is why: every employer knows you have references. Including "references available upon request" tells them nothing they did not already know and uses two lines of space that could be occupied by a skill or achievement.

Similarly, listing your referees by name — with their contact details, job titles, and companies — on your CV is unnecessary at the application stage. References are typically taken up only after a job offer is conditionally made, which is well past the CV stage.

When Are References Actually Requested?

In most hiring processes, references are requested at one of two points:

1. After a conditional offer has been made (the offer is subject to satisfactory references)
2. In some public sector or regulated industry applications, earlier in the process

You will have time to prepare and brief your referees when references are formally requested. There is no need to preempt this on your CV.

What to Prepare Instead

Rather than listing references on your CV, keep a separate reference list ready: two to three referees with their name, title, company, relationship to you, email, and phone number. Have this ready to share when requested — typically as a separate document.

The Exceptions

Some employers explicitly ask for references to be included in the application. If the job description or application instructions request referees on the CV or application form, include them.

Some public sector applications, particularly in the NHS and civil service, include a references section in the formal application form (separate from the CV).

Follow the employer's instructions. In the absence of specific instructions, do not include references.

Using the Space Better

The two or three lines you might have spent on a references section are better used for an additional bullet point in your experience section or an expanded skills section — content that directly affects your ATS score and human reviewer impression.

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