In a CV, references are people whose contact information you provide to recruiters so that they can vouch for your character, skills, and work performance. They are professionals who have an unbiased opinion of your work performance. Recruiters use your references to double-check what you’ve written on your CV, as many candidates actually lie on their applications. If you provide references in your CV, the recruiters will either call or email them and request information about you, such as your relationship with them, your work performance, your defining characteristics, and whether you will be a good fit for the job you are applying for.

It is not necessary to include references in your CV unless it is specifically requested by your prospective employer. In fact, most career experts now recommend not to include references on a CV, and simply state, ‘References available on request’ . There are several reasons for this, including the fact that references are not needed at the early stages of a job application, and that they waste space that would be better used detailing your experience, skills, or knowledge.

If you want to prove that you are a respected candidate who is valued by your past employers, you can show your reporting lines or include testimonials from previous employers.