MistakesJun 16, 2025·4 min read
Should you put references on a resume?
No — and 'references available on request' is dead weight too. Save the space for something that sells you.
Leave them off
Employers ask for references when they're ready, usually late in the process. Listing them upfront gives away nothing useful and clutters the page.
Skip the placeholder line
'References available on request' states the obvious — of course they are. It's a line of filler where a real bullet could sit.
Prepare them separately
Keep a clean, one-page reference sheet ready to send when asked. Give your references a heads-up and share your target role so they can speak to it.
Spend the space wisely
Every line on a resume should earn its place. A reference placeholder never does; a quantified win always does.