References

References are individuals — typically former managers, colleagues, clients, or mentors — who a prospective employer may contact to verify your work history and assess your professional reputation. They provide firsthand accounts of your skills, work ethic, accomplishments, and character.

Modern resume convention strongly advises against including references directly on your resume or adding the line "References available upon request." This statement is assumed and wastes valuable resume space. Instead, prepare a separate reference sheet with three to five contacts, formatted with each person's name, title, company, phone number, email, and your relationship to them. Provide this document only when explicitly requested.

Always ask permission before listing someone as a reference, and give them a heads-up when you expect they may be contacted. Brief them on the role you are applying for so they can tailor their responses. Choose references who can speak specifically to the skills and experiences relevant to your target position — a reference who supervised your directly relevant work is far more valuable than a prestigious name who barely knows your contributions.