Should You List References on a Resume?

Jobsa team · Resumes in Canada

"References available upon request" is one of the most common lines on resumes — and also one of the most commonly recommended for removal by recruiters and career advisors alike. Here's the actual current thinking.

Why the old line is outdated

Stating that references are "available upon request" tells an employer nothing they didn't already assume — of course you'll provide references if asked, that's standard practice for virtually every job seeker. The line takes up a full sentence of a document where space is genuinely limited, without adding any real information.

What to do instead

In most cases: simply omit any mention of references from your resume entirely. If an employer wants references, they'll ask for them later in the process, typically after an interview — at which point you can prepare a separate reference sheet with names, titles, relationship to you, and contact information, formatted to match your resume.

When to actually list references directly

Some job postings, especially in government, education, or certain regulated fields, explicitly ask you to include reference contact information as part of the initial application. In that specific case, follow the instruction — list them on a separate page or in the application field provided, not squeezed onto your resume itself.

Choosing and preparing references

Once references are actually requested, pick people who can speak specifically to your work — former managers or senior colleagues are generally stronger than friends or family, even if a friend happens to have relevant industry knowledge. Always ask permission before listing someone, and give them a heads-up about the specific role so their answers are relevant and consistent with what you've said in your application.