References and referees

Usually no. Most employers ask for references later, after an interview or with a job offer, so listing names and contact details on the resume uses space and shares other people's information too early.

When to include them:

• The job advert or application form asks for references with the resume.
• Your industry or country commonly expects them, such as some public sector, academic or teaching roles.
• A well-known referee in your field would strengthen your application and has agreed to be named.

Otherwise, keep a separate reference list ready to send when asked. For UK CVs, official careers guidance treats references as optional. Leaving them off the resume does not suggest you have none; employers simply assume you will provide them when requested.

Prepare your list before you need it.

It is generally unnecessary. Employers assume you will provide references when asked, so the line adds no information and takes up space.

When it might still be used:

• Some people in the Gulf, South Asia or Africa include it out of local habit, and it is unlikely to harm you.
• Very short resumes sometimes use it to finish the page neatly.

If space is tight, delete it first. A better use of that line could be a relevant certification, a link to your portfolio or one more achievement. If an employer specifically wants to know that references are ready, you can mention it in your cover letter or when they ask.

Whatever you decide, make sure your referees really are ready. Contact them before you start applying, confirm their details, and tell them what kinds of roles you are applying for.

Choose people who have seen your work directly and can speak positively and specifically about it, ideally recent managers.

Good choices:

• Your current or most recent line manager.
• A previous manager or supervisor.
• A senior colleague or project lead who worked closely with you.
• A client you worked with over time, for freelance or sales roles.
• For students: a lecturer, project supervisor or internship supervisor.

Avoid:

• Family members and friends.
• People who barely know your work.
• Someone who might give a lukewarm reference.

Most employers want two or three referees, often including your most recent employer. Ask each person before listing them.

If you are not sure what someone will say, ask them directly whether they feel able to give you a positive reference. A polite question now is better than a weak reference later.

Prepare two or three, and have one more in reserve in case someone is unavailable.

A typical set:

• Your current or most recent manager.
• A previous manager.
• A colleague, client or academic contact who knows your work well.

Some employers ask for a specific number or type, such as "two references, one from your current employer". Follow those instructions exactly. If you have little work experience, a mix of a part-time job supervisor, a teacher and a volunteer coordinator is fine.

Put references on a separate page with a matching header, and list each referee's name, job title, organisation, relationship to you and contact details.

Example:
"Ms Fatima Al Hashimi
Finance Manager, Gulf Trading LLC
Former line manager (2021–2024)
Email: f.alhashimi@example.com | Phone: +971 50 000 0000"

Tips:

• Use the same fonts and header as your resume.
• Order referees by relevance, usually your most recent manager first.
• Include only contact details the referee has agreed to share.
• Keep the page clean; no extra commentary is needed.

Send this page only when the employer asks for references.

Yes. Always ask before you give anyone's name and contact details to an employer.

Why it matters:

• It respects their privacy and time.
• A referee who is expecting the call gives a better, more prepared answer.
• Someone surprised by a call may sound hesitant, which can hurt you.

How to ask:

• Contact them politely and explain the role you are applying for.
• Confirm which contact details they want you to share.
• Send them your current resume and the job advert so they can mention relevant strengths.

Example message: "I'm applying for a project coordinator role and would be grateful if I could list you as a referee. May I share your work email?"

A referee is the person who vouches for you. A reference is what they provide: a phone call, an email or a letter about your work.

In everyday use, people often say "references" for both. For example, "Please provide two references" usually means "give us the details of two referees".

Related terms:

• Character reference: about your personal qualities, often from someone outside work.
• Professional or employment reference: about your work, usually from a manager.
• Reference letter or letter of recommendation: a written reference.

Understanding these terms helps you give the employer exactly what they asked for.

Use people who know your abilities from other settings, such as education, volunteering, internships or part-time work.

Good alternatives:

• A lecturer or project supervisor.
• An internship supervisor.
• A volunteer coordinator.
• A coach, mentor or club leader.
• A customer or client from freelance work.

Explain the relationship clearly on your reference list, for example "Final-year project supervisor, 2024". Avoid family members and friends. For first jobs, employers expect references from these sources and judge them fairly.

A character reference describes your personal qualities, such as honesty, reliability and how you treat others, rather than your work performance. It usually comes from someone who knows you outside a work setting.

Common sources:

• A teacher or lecturer.
• A community leader or volunteer organiser.
• A long-standing family friend with a professional role, if acceptable to the employer.
• A sports coach or mentor.

Employers sometimes accept character references for first jobs or when you have been self-employed. Professional references from managers are generally preferred when you have work history. Follow the employer's instructions about who counts as an acceptable referee.

Only if the employer asks for one, or it is common in your field or country. Otherwise, wait until references are requested.

When reference letters are common:

• Academic and teaching applications.
• Some scholarship, graduate programme and immigration-related applications.
• Some countries and sectors where written references from past employers are customary.

If you have a strong letter, keep a PDF ready. Make sure it is recent, on letterhead if possible, and signed. Many employers will still want to speak to referees directly, even if you send a letter.

Practice varies. Some candidates in the region add "References available upon request" or list referees by habit, but many employers simply ask for references later in the process.

Practical approach:

• Do not include full referee details on the resume unless the job advert asks for them.
• Keep a reference list ready to send quickly.
• Include referees from previous Gulf employers if you have them, as local employers may find them easier to contact.

Some employers in the region may also contact previous employers directly as part of background checks. Make sure your dates, titles and employers are accurate on your resume.

Not on the CV itself. Official UK careers guidance lists references as optional on a CV, and most UK employers ask for referees later, often after an offer.

Practical points:

• You can leave references off your CV entirely.
• If an application form asks for referee details, complete it as instructed.
• Many UK offers are made "subject to satisfactory references", so prepare your referees early.
• Some employers ask for a reference from your most recent employer covering a set period of time.

Make sure your referees know they may be contacted and that your dates of employment match what they will confirm.

Generally not. In the US, references are usually requested separately, during or after interviews, and listing them on the resume is uncommon.

Typical practice:

• Leave references and "References available upon request" off the resume.
• Prepare a separate reference page with three referees.
• Expect employers to contact references at the final stages.

If an online application asks for references, enter them as requested. Contact your referees first so they are ready.

Give the details an employer needs to identify and contact them, and to understand why their view matters.

Include:

• Full name.
• Current job title and organisation.
• Your working relationship and when: "Line manager, 2022–2025".
• Work email and phone number, as agreed with the referee.

Optional:

• The best time to contact them.
• A note if they have since moved company: "Former Operations Manager at ABC Logistics, now at XYZ Group".

Do not include their home address, personal details or anything they have not agreed to share.

Tell them about the job, remind them of your work together and highlight what the employer cares about, so they can give a relevant, confident reference.

Steps:

• Send them the job advert and your updated resume.
• Mention two or three strengths or achievements they saw firsthand.
• Let them know roughly when they might be contacted and by whom.
• Thank them, and update them on the outcome.

Example message: "The role focuses on supplier negotiation; it would be great if you could mention the vendor review project we worked on in 2024."

Do not script what they should say. Simply help them remember relevant facts.

Yes, often as one of your referees, but most employers prefer at least one manager or supervisor.

When a colleague works well:

• They worked closely with you on projects.
• They were senior to you or led a team you were part of.
• Your manager has left the company and cannot be reached.

Make the relationship clear: "Senior colleague and project lead, 2023–2025". Peers can speak about teamwork and skills, while managers can speak about performance and reliability. A mix gives a fuller picture.

Yes. A manager who supervised you is still a valid referee, even if they now work somewhere else.

How to list them:
"Mr Rajesh Kumar
Former Operations Manager, Delta Logistics (my line manager 2020–2023)
Now: Head of Operations, Prime Freight
Email: r.kumar@example.com"

This tells the employer why they are relevant and how to reach them. Make sure you have their current contact details and that they agree to act as a referee. Some employers also contact the company's HR department to confirm dates, so keep both routes in mind.

No. On a one-page resume, space is too valuable for referee details. Keep references on a separate document and send them when asked.

What to do instead:

• Use the space for an achievement, a certification or your skills.
• Leave out "References available upon request".
• Keep a separate reference sheet ready, formatted to match your resume.

If an employer specifically asks for referee details with the resume, follow their instructions, even if it means adding a short section or a second page.

ResumeBuilder.ae includes a References section that you can add and reorder like other sections. Use it only when an employer asks for referees with your resume.

Tips:

• Add each referee with name, title, organisation and relationship.
• Include contact details only with the referee's permission.
• If you do not need references, leave the section out rather than adding filler text.
• Check the preview to make sure each referee's details are complete and consistent.

The builder lets you save up to 10 resumes, so you can keep one version with references and one without.

Generally no. Employers usually do not accept relatives as referees, because they are not seen as independent.

Exceptions are rare:

• You worked for a family business, and the relative was genuinely your manager. In this case, disclose the relationship and, if possible, provide another referee from outside the family, such as a client or supplier.

For first jobs, choose teachers, lecturers, volunteer supervisors or part-time employers instead. Being open about relationships protects your credibility if the employer checks.

Ideally from the last few years. Employers want to hear from people who know how you work now.

Guidelines:

• Your most recent manager is usually the most valuable referee.
• References from more than about five to seven years ago are less useful, unless the employer asks for a full history.
• After a career break, use your last employer and add someone who knows your recent activities, such as a course tutor or volunteer coordinator.

Keep in touch with good managers and colleagues as you change jobs, so you always have recent referees ready.

Yes. Many employers accept international references, especially in the Gulf and other places with international workforces.

To make it easy:

• Provide a work email and a phone number with the country code.
• Mention the time zone or best time to call.
• Make sure the referee is comfortable giving a reference in the language the employer uses, or mention that an email reference is easier.

Example: "Mr Joseph Mathew, Store Manager, Bangalore, India | +91 98000 00000 (IST, available 10:00–17:00)."

Some employers prefer local references or use background screening companies for overseas checks, so allow extra time.

A reference check is when an employer contacts your referees to confirm details and learn about your work. Questions vary, but commonly cover:

• Your dates of employment and job title.
• Your main responsibilities.
• Strengths and areas for development.
• Reliability, attendance and teamwork.
• Whether they would rehire you.

Some companies only confirm dates and titles, as a policy. Others have longer conversations or send forms.

This is why accuracy on your resume matters: if your titles or dates do not match what referees or HR say, it can raise concerns. Make sure your referees know the role and your resume details.

Usually not in the same way, because your current employer already knows your work. Your current manager's view will often be considered informally.

Tips:

• Tell your manager before applying, if your company's process expects that.
• Ask a manager or colleague from another department who knows your work to support your application, if allowed.
• Follow the internal job posting instructions exactly.

Internal applications sometimes ask for a supporting statement or endorsement rather than formal references. Check your company's policy or ask HR.

Use LinkedIn recommendations as extra support, not as a replacement. Employers who ask for references usually want to speak to or hear from referees directly.

How recommendations help:

• They are visible to recruiters who view your profile.
• They show feedback from managers, colleagues and clients.
• They can encourage a recruiter before formal checks.

Ask for recommendations from people who know your work well, and keep your formal reference list separate. You do not need to quote recommendations on your resume; a profile link is enough.