Should You Put References on a Resume?

Reference handling is one of the smaller resume details that still trips people up — mostly because the "right" approach isn't as obvious as it seems, and varies a little by industry and role level.

The Standard Australian Approach

The common convention on Australian resumes is to write "References available on request" at the bottom of the resume, rather than listing referee names and contact details directly on the document. This keeps your resume focused on your own experience and protects your referees' contact details from being distributed more widely than necessary at the early stages of a hiring process.

Some candidates skip the line entirely, since most employers assume references will be available if asked — either approach is acceptable, and it's more a matter of personal preference than a strict rule.

When to List References Directly

There are a few situations where listing references upfront makes sense:

If the job ad specifically asks for them. Some job ads, particularly for smaller organisations or specific industries, ask you to include reference details in your initial application — follow the specific instructions given.

In highly relationship-driven industries like real estate or some sales roles, where a well-known referee's name can genuinely strengthen an application early.

For some government and public sector roles, where the application form has a dedicated section for referee details as part of the standard process.

Preparing a Separate Reference List

Even when you write "available on request," it's worth having a properly formatted reference list ready to send quickly if asked — a delayed or scrambled response to a reference request can create a poor impression late in the process.

A good reference list includes, for each referee:

• Full name and job title.
• Their relationship to you (e.g. "Direct Manager, 2023–2025").
• Phone number and email address.
• The organisation they were at when they worked with you.

Choosing the Right References

Prioritise people who can speak to your actual work, not just your character — a direct supervisor or manager who oversaw your day-to-day performance is generally more persuasive than a peer or someone in a more distant role.

Always ask permission first, and give your referees a heads-up about the specific role you're applying for so they can tailor what they say if contacted.

Choose recent and relevant referees where possible — a manager from a role closely related to the one you're applying for carries more weight than an older, less relevant reference, even if the older one is more senior.

If you're new to the workforce, a teacher, coach, volunteer coordinator, or community leader who knows your work ethic well is a completely acceptable substitute for a former employer.

Getting Started

References are a small but easy detail to get right. Focus your energy on the parts of your resume that do the real persuading — your work experience, skills, and tailored summary. See our full Australian resume format guide for everything else, or use our AI resume builder to put together a complete, properly formatted resume.