You should not put references on your CV. They are requested later in the hiring process, usually after an interview, and listing them uses space that should be carrying evidence about you. Prepare them on a separate sheet and provide it when asked.
Why they moved off the CV
Three reasons. Space is scarce and a reference block costs four to six lines that could hold two achievements. Nobody checks references before an interview, so the information is not used at the stage it appears. And listing someone’s name, employer, phone number and email on a document you email to strangers hands out their personal data without a good reason — something that would now raise questions under most data protection regimes.
Do not write “references available on request”
Every employer already knows references are available on request. The line is a leftover from when it was a genuine signal, and today it reads as filler. Delete it and use the space for something that argues your case.
Prepare a reference sheet instead
A separate one-page document, matching your CV’s header so they look like a set:
References — Ayesha Khan
Fatima Siddiqui
Engineering Manager, Payments Co
Direct line manager, March 2021 – present
fatima.siddiqui@example.com · +92 300 0000000
Imran Yusuf
Head of Platform, Previous Employer Ltd
Line manager, June 2019 – February 2021
imran.yusuf@example.com · +92 300 0000000
Include the relationship and the dates. It saves the recruiter a question and shows you have thought about who is best placed to speak for you.
Who to ask
- Best: your most recent direct line manager.
- Also strong: a previous manager, a senior colleague who oversaw your work, a client who directly managed a project you delivered.
- For graduates: a dissertation supervisor, module leader, or the manager from a part-time job or internship.
- Not suitable: friends, relatives, or a colleague at the same level who never supervised you.
Ask first, every time
Never list someone who does not know they are listed. Beyond basic courtesy, an unprepared reference gives a hesitant answer, and hesitation on a reference call is read as a warning. Message them, say which role you are going for, and offer to send the job description and your CV.
Brief them properly
A reference who knows what the role emphasises can speak to it directly. One short message is enough: the company, the title, the two or three things the advert stresses, and a reminder of the project you would most like mentioned. This is not coaching them to say anything untrue — it is making sure the true things they say are the relevant ones.
If you cannot use your current employer
Common and expected when your job search is confidential. Say so plainly: “My current employer is not aware I am looking, so I have listed my two previous managers. I can provide a reference from my current line manager once I have an offer.” No reasonable employer objects.
What most references actually say
Many larger companies now confirm only job title and dates as a matter of policy, and nothing more. That makes a reference willing to speak in detail genuinely valuable, and it is worth keeping in touch with one or two former managers for exactly that reason.
While you are trimming, our list of CV mistakes covers what else can come off the page.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I put references on my CV?
No, not in 2026. Space on a CV is scarce, and references are requested later in the process. Provide them when asked, on a separate sheet.
Should I write ‘references available on request’?
No. It is assumed, so the line adds nothing and uses space you could spend on an achievement.
How many references do I need?
Two is standard, three is common for senior roles. Usually your most recent line manager plus one other person who supervised your work.
Can I use a friend or family member as a reference?
No. References should be people who managed or worked alongside you professionally. A personal reference is only appropriate where an employer explicitly asks for a character reference, usually alongside professional ones.