Short answer: in 2026 you almost never list references on the resume itself, and you skip the dated line 'References available upon request.' Keep references on a separate reference page, formatted to match your CV, and hand it over only when an employer asks. Here is what to include, the exact resume references format, and a worked example you can copy.
For almost every job in 2026, references do not belong on the resume. Recruiters do not check them at the application stage, so listing names there only burns space you need for experience and outcomes. It also exposes your referees' contact details to every system and inbox your resume passes through, which they did not sign up for.
The old closing line, 'References available upon request,' is just as outdated. Employers already assume you can produce references, so the line states the obvious and reads like filler. Delete it and give that line back to a real bullet that moves your candidacy forward.
There are a few exceptions where references are expected up front: some government and federal roles, certain academic or research posts, and a handful of regulated fields that ask for them on the form. When a posting explicitly requests references, follow it. Otherwise, keep them off and keep them ready on a separate page.
The right home for references is a standalone reference page for your resume: a second document, with its own file, that you send only when an employer asks. It keeps your CV focused while letting you respond in seconds when the request comes.
Make it look like it belongs to your resume. Reuse the same header (your name, phone, email, city) and the same font and spacing so the two documents read as a set. Title it clearly, list three to four references, and save it with a name like 'Firstname-Lastname-References.pdf' so a hiring manager knows what it is at a glance.
Pick references who can speak to your actual work: a recent manager, a senior peer or cross-functional partner, and a client or skip-level if you have one. Ask each person first, confirm the contact details and title they want used, and give them a two-line reminder of the role so they are not caught off guard when the call comes.
Each entry should be scannable in one glance and give the hiring manager everything they need to make contact. Use a consistent block per person and keep the order the same all the way down the page.
Include the reference's full name, their job title, the company, the working relationship to you, and one verified way to reach them (phone or email, ideally both). One short line on how you worked together helps the reference call land on the right topics.
A clean entry looks like this: 'Maria Chen, Director of Engineering, Northwind Labs. Maria was my direct manager for two years. maria.chen@northwind.example, (555) 014-2207.' Repeat that block three or four times, keep the spacing even, and you have a reference page that matches the polish of your CV.
Here is a full resume references example you can adapt. Keep the header identical to your CV, then list each person in the same block format.
JORDAN ELLIS | Chicago, IL | jordan.ellis@example.com | (555) 019-3382
References
Maria Chen, Director of Engineering, Northwind Labs. Direct manager, 2023 to 2025. maria.chen@northwind.example | (555) 014-2207
Devon Okafor, Senior Product Manager, Northwind Labs. Cross-functional partner on the billing platform rebuild. devon.okafor@northwind.example | (555) 087-6610
Priya Nair, VP of Operations, Cedar Retail (former client). Sponsor and primary stakeholder on a six-month integration. priya.nair@cedar.example | (555) 220-4419
Notice what is not here: no full street addresses, no 'available upon request,' and no padding to reach some imaginary quota. Three references, each one verified and briefed, formatted to match the resume they support.
In almost all cases, no. Recruiters do not check references at the application stage, so listing them on the CV wastes space and exposes your referees' contact details. Keep them on a separate reference page and send it only when an employer asks. The exceptions are some government, academic, and regulated roles that request references on the form, in which case you follow the posting.
No. Employers already assume you can provide references, so the line states the obvious and reads as filler from an older era of resumes. Delete it and use that line for a real accomplishment instead. If a company wants references, they will ask, and you hand over your prepared reference page.
Three to four is the standard for most roles. Quality matters more than quantity: a recent manager, a senior peer or cross-functional partner, and a client or skip-level who can speak to your work beat a long list of casual contacts. Senior and executive candidates sometimes provide four or five, but more than that rarely helps.
For each person, list their full name, job title, company, your working relationship, and at least one verified contact method (email and phone if you have both). Add one short line on how you worked together so the call lands on the right topics. Keep every entry in the same block format and reuse your resume's header and font so the page matches.
People who can speak credibly to your actual work: a recent direct manager, a senior peer or cross-functional partner, and a client or skip-level leader if you have one. Avoid friends, family, and anyone who only knows you socially. Always ask permission first and confirm the title, company, and contact details they want you to use.
No. Send it only when an employer requests references, usually late in the process after interviews. Keep it ready as a separate PDF named clearly, like 'Firstname-Lastname-References.pdf,' so you can respond within minutes. Give your references a heads-up before you share their details so they are expecting the call.
Format, sections, action verbs, and the lines to cut, including the dated references line.
Single-column, standard sections, and selectable text that parsers read cleanly.
See strong versions across 10+ roles, then build yours with AI.
The sections that earn space, and the ones (like references) that do not.
Let AI design an ATS-clean resume from your own details, then keep a matching reference page ready for when an employer asks.
Build my CV →