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Should You Put References on Your CV?

Written by: Lucy Walters
Published on: 30 Jul 2021

Should You Put References on Your CV?As CVs should generally be kept no longer than 2 pages, you need to make the most of the space you have and only include information that’s relevant and essential to the application.

References are usually only required later on in the recruitment process, so it’s not necessary to include them in your CV unless you’ve been asked to. Don’t waste valuable space by writing ‘References available upon request’ either as this is a given and not a selling point for your application.

Also be mindful of the fact that you shouldn’t be sharing the contact details of your referees when it’s not necessary. Especially for speculative or ‘Quick Apply’ applications, you don’t always know who these details are being sent to and how they’re going to be shared, so you should only include them where it’s essential to, and after you’ve got their permission.