How to List References on a CV [w/ Examples + Tips]

During a job hiring process, some recruiters require references to be included when handing in your CV. CV references serve as a way for recruiters to confirm with a third party if the information provided on the CV is real.

That explains the job hiring requirements, but what about an academic CV? If you are creating a CV to apply for a Master’s Degree or Ph.D., you need references from your lecturers or professors who can speak for you and prove that your information is authentic. Your CV references will be a very reliable source for your graduate school to confirm your credentials.

When creating a CV, all the information listed is provided by you but people who review your CV might want to ensure the authenticity or gain extra information. Though one might argue that a CV declaration will do the work of proofing the CV’s authenticity, the CV declaration is also made by the writer him/herself. This is where a referee who passes down judgments comes in and lets you put their contact information in your CV as CV references. 

During a job search, recruiters often reach out to the references listed on the CV to confirm whether they are hiring the right person with the skills, working performance, and personality of the company. You can be a fresher or someone with working experience but if you can get networks to testify for you or recommend you, you and your CV information will be more credible. 

Then, if you are applying for academic positions, whether it is a job at a school or a graduate degree, CV references can serve similarly to a recommendation letter. This is because academic positions require a lot of good personalities and working attitudes, which only professors or lecturers who have worked with you can testify for.

There is always a debate over whether or not one should include references in a CV. Let us break this down into two sections: academic CV and job application CV.

If you’re wondering, “Do you put references on an academic CV?”, the answer is always yes. This is because you are applying for a position that requires many qualifications, licenses, and research experiences from a faculty or university to show that you are the best pick for an academic post. 

On the other hand, if you are writing a CV for a job application, it is not always recommended to include CV references as your CV is screened during the first stage of the recruitment when hiring managers have not yet required these references. It is also because CV references contain other people’s contact information, which is something you don’t want to give out unless really necessary. 

However, you should include references in your CV when it is specifically asked by the recruiters. Each company and hiring managers have different policies and procedures when it comes to hiring employees, so you want to make sure that you are abiding to the requirements of the job you are applying for.

Now that you have known the importance of CV references, you will be guided through the steps of writing one.

1. Determine the number of CV references you wish to list.

If you were to include CV references, do not include only one reference. The best number of references to list is 2 to 3. This is so that the hiring managers could gain different opinions and insights for an objective assessment of your skills or past performance.

2. Reach out to suitable referees and ask for their permission.

Then, you should find the perfect and suitable referee who knows you well to be listed as your CV reference. This means having someone with a very impressive profile will do no good if he does not know anything about you. Also, don’t forget to ask for permission before listing them as your referee.

3. Ask for the referees’ contact details.

Don’t forget to ask for permission from your referees before you list them. Once permission is granted, ask them for the below information to list your the references section of your CV:

4. Show appreciation to the referees.

Always be polite and remember to thank for the help that you got from your referees. They are doing you a big favor in your job hunting journey and you want to remain professional with your networks.

5. Write 1-2 lines description of the referees.

When including CV references, you could describe the relationship that you have with the referee and also their job title and main responsibility. This helps the recruiter to better know your referees and if they are credible people who can testify about you.

6. List the references using the right format.

There is a format to write the correct CV references. You may follow the template given below to write yours.

Here's a CV references format template: 

For reference, here is a CV reference example:

Good CV References Examples

• Mr. Bartle Peier 
  Professor of Columbia University
  New York, NY 10027, USA
  013-4567892
  [email protected]
• Ms. Lohrein Su
  Head of Faculty at University of Virginia
  Charlottesville, VA, United States
  Tel: 016-7896253
  Email: [email protected]
• Ms. Liao Lih-hi
  Manager of The BYOB Co.
  963 S Glendora Ave, West Covina, CA 91790, USA
  Tel: 016-7894563
  Email: [email protected]

Bad CV References Examples

• Mr. Sam Dickson
  Father
  Tel: 016-1233345
  Email: [email protected]

• Mr. Pete Heindall
  Coffee Bean
  Tel: 013-4567892
  Email: [email protected]
  

• Ms. Eli
  Head Chef
  Tel: 013-1234567
  [email protected]

💡 Do not choose family or friends to be referees.

When looking for referees, you should always find professionals who have a higher position and more experience than you. Family and friends are not suitable because their words can be biased and they likely wouldn’t have any objective insight about your professional performance or achievements. 

Here are some suitable referees that you can find when trying to include CV references.

💡 Do not include too many references.

The number of CV references should be no more than 3 because recruiters do not have time to contact every referee. It also takes up space in your CV, which would be better used for other important CV information.

💡 Use consistent formatting for all listings.

A CV should look tidy and neat, which means your CV references should all be written in the same format. Do not change the format order of the references as it may confuse the readers.

💡 Do not include references if not required.

Some recruiters prefer not to have CV references because they do not have time to check on it. Recruiters do not require testimonials from referees at the screening process of the requirement, so it’s better to use the space for other, more important content such as your experiences, skills or achievements.

💡 Do not include references if you were fired or dismissed from the previous job.

You don’t want to include previous employers who did not have a good impression of you as your CV references because there likely won’t be good words coming from them. Your references are meant to be people who you know can give you good testimonies to your future employer.

--- Originally written by Ryan Goh ---