References and extra sections: what to say, what to skip and what to keep ready
Whether to write "references available on request", how to prepare people who will speak for you, and how to handle optional sections such as publications and memberships.
By Avowly · Last reviewed 6 November 2026 · 7 min read · How we write these
In short
- Leave out "references available on request" and the list of referees. Keep two or three people ready instead.
- Ask each person first, send them your resume and the job description, and keep their details in a separate document.
- Include memberships, training records and credentials only when they are relevant, one dated line each.
- Turn vague extras such as "flexible" into facts a reader can use. End the page cleanly.
Once your experience, education and skills are in place, a few optional pieces remain at the end of many resumes: references, memberships, publications and so on. They are small, but people still worry about them, and most of the worry comes from old habits.
This guide sorts out what to include, what to leave off and what to have ready for when someone asks.
References
For years the last line of a resume was "References available on request". Recruiters assume that, so the line takes up space and says nothing. Leave it out.
A full list of referees with names and phone numbers on the resume is also unnecessary, and it can be a problem. It shares other people's details with every reader, and it uses space that your achievements need.
What you should do is have your references ready. Employers usually ask for them late in the process, when they are close to an offer, and it helps if you can reply within a day.
Choose the right people
Pick two or three people who have seen your work and can speak about it in specific terms.
- A manager or supervisor from a recent role
- A colleague or team lead who worked with you closely
- A client, a teacher or a project supervisor if you are early in your career
A friend who says you are lovely is much less useful than a former manager who can describe a project you delivered. In shift work, the person who saw you most is often a shift lead or a duty manager rather than the store or home manager, and that is fine.
Ask first, and prepare them
Always ask permission before you give someone's name. Tell them about the job you are applying for, send them your current resume, and remind them of the work you did together. A referee who remembers the details gives a much stronger reference than one who is caught by surprise.
Keep a short document ready with each person's name, relationship to you, job title, organization, email, phone number and the best time to reach them. Update it when things change.
Written references
Some people keep a letter from a past employer. These can be useful, particularly when the person has left a company or role that is hard to verify. Most employers will still want to speak to someone, so a letter supports a reference list and does not replace it.
On the resume
References available on request
Readers assume it. The space is better used.
A recent manager
Asked first
A close colleague
Asked first
A teacher or supervisor, early in a career
Asked first
Keep ready, in a separate document
Name, relationship to you, job title, organization, email, phone and the best time to reach them.
Keep their details away from your contact details section on the page.
Memberships and professional bodies
If you belong to a recognized professional body, list the name and the type of membership, with the year you joined, especially if it is relevant to the role. The grade matters, because it tells a reader what level you reached.
Before
Member of various professional bodies.
After
Associate member of the national chartered body for HR professionals, since 2022.
Why it works: The grade and the year came from her membership card. "Various" hid the one membership that matters for an HR role, so it now stands alone.
On a real resume, write the body's full, exact name, so a reader can look it up. Leave out memberships that mean little, such as free newsletter sign ups. Keep the list short.
Publications and presentations
For academic, scientific and some technical roles, publications are central. List them in a consistent style, newest first, with your name easy to spot among the authors. For most other roles, one or two relevant pieces are enough, such as an article you wrote or a talk you gave.
If the list is long, include the most relevant and add a link to a full list. Languages and interests covers what else can sit near the end.
Patents, licenses and training records
Name each one, say who issued it and give the year or the expiry date. Keep each to one line. Add a license or registration number only when the advert, the regulator or the trade expects to see it. If it is relevant to the job, consider mentioning it in your summary as well.
In care, security, hospitality and the trades, a manager often checks first that mandatory training is current. A vague line makes them ask; a dated one answers the question.
Before
First aid trained.
After
First Aid at Work certificate, renewed 2025; moving and handling refresher, 2026.
Why it works: The dates came from her training record at the home. A care manager wants to see that the training is current, not only that it happened once.
Longer lists of certificates have their own home in certifications and courses.
Extra sections worth a thought
Some situations call for a small extra section.
- Military or national service, when it shows relevant training or leadership.
- Security clearance or right to work, when the role asks for it. State it plainly, in the way the posting expects.
- Availability, such as "available to start in January", when it answers a question the recruiter would otherwise have to ask.
- Driving and shift patterns, for jobs where travel or unsocial hours are part of the work.
That last one is easy to waste on a single vague word:
Before
Flexible.
After
Nights and weekends available; full driving license and own car.
Why it works: Asking which shifts he could work and how he would reach a site turned one vague word into facts a scheduler can use.
The same goes for right to work. Say what you hold and, if it expires, when.
Before
Visa: yes.
After
Right to work: work visa valid until 2028, no sponsorship needed.
Why it works: The expiry year came from his visa document. "Yes" left the employer to wonder whether they would need to sponsor him; now they know.
Do not add a section only because you have seen one on a template. Every heading should have a reason to be there. Internships, projects and volunteering often earn more space than extras.
What not to include
- Your referees' personal contact details on the page
- "References available on request"
- Salary history or expected pay (give those in the employer's form when asked)
- Reasons for leaving past jobs
- Personal statements about your character with no evidence
Keep the end of the page tidy
The last lines of a resume are often the weakest. Make sure that what remains is useful, short and consistent with the rest. Then stop. A resume that ends cleanly leaves a better impression than one that trails off into filler.
Common questions
- When will an employer ask for references?
- Usually late in the process, once you are close to an offer. Have your list ready so you can respond quickly.
- What if my current employer does not know I am looking?
- Say so when you are asked. Many employers will accept referees from past roles or make the offer conditional on a reference from your current employer at the last stage.
- Do I need references if I have no work history?
- Yes, but they can come from a teacher, project supervisor, club leader or volunteer coordinator who has seen your work.
- What if a past employer only confirms dates?
- Many larger employers have a policy of confirming only your job title and dates. That is normal and does not count against you. Add a second referee, such as a former supervisor who has since moved on, who can speak about how you worked.