By Chanuka Jeewantha · Published · Updated
Referees are one of the smaller sections of an Australian resume and one of the most misjudged by applicants used to other markets. A UK CV leaves referees off entirely and a US resume rarely lists them either, so a candidate who has worked mainly in those markets often defaults to omitting them, or hedges with "available on request". Australian hiring managers, especially outside large corporate employers, are used to a more direct convention. This guide covers how many referees to use, whether to list their details, who to choose, how to prepare them, and what changes when your referees are overseas.
How many referees, and where they sit on the resume
Two referees is the standard for most professional applications, rising to three for senior or executive roles where a panel may want a broader view of your work. Referees sit in their own short section near the end of the resume, after education and any licences or memberships, formatted consistently: name, job title, organisation, relationship to you, and phone or email.
If a specific job ad asks for referees' contact details to be provided as part of the application, include them, because the ad is telling you directly what the employer expects rather than leaving it to convention.
Naming referees directly versus available on request
Australian convention leans toward listing two referees with their role and current contact details directly on the resume, once you have asked their permission. This is different from the UK and US default of leaving references off the CV entirely and providing them only after an offer. Many Australian hiring managers prefer to move straight to a reference call once they have shortlisted a candidate, and a resume that already has the details ready removes a step from that process.
"Referees available on request" is still understood and used, particularly early in a search or when a job ad has not asked for referees at all, and it is a reasonable choice if you have not yet told a potential referee they may be contacted. It is simply the more cautious option in a market where naming referees directly is common enough to be the stronger default.
Who makes a strong referee
The strongest referees are people who directly supervised your day-to-day work in a recent role, a manager, team leader or direct supervisor, because they can speak to specifics rather than a general impression. A more senior figure who barely worked with you day to day is usually a weaker choice than a supervisor who actually saw the work, even if the senior person's title looks more impressive on paper.
Beyond direct managers, colleagues who worked closely with you, clients you delivered for, and for graduates, placement supervisors, lecturers or volunteer coordinators are all reasonable choices. Friends, family members and people who have not worked with you professionally are never appropriate referees on an Australian resume.
Preparing your referees before you apply
Ask each referee directly before listing them, not as a formality but because it genuinely changes how the call goes. Tell them the type of roles you are applying for, remind them of specific projects or achievements from your time working together that connect to those roles, and ask them to expect a call or email, ideally within a defined window while you are actively applying.
Keep their contact details current. A former manager who has since changed jobs, phone numbers or email addresses is a small but real friction point if a hiring manager tries to reach them and cannot, and it can read as a resume that has not been updated recently.
When your referees are overseas
If you are applying for Australian roles from Sri Lanka, India or elsewhere, your referees can be overseas too, and this is normal for skilled migrants and international applicants. State the referee's role and organisation clearly, and include the country code with their phone number so an Australian hiring manager can reach them without guessing the dialling format.
Where useful, one line of context about the referee's organisation, similar to the context you would add for an overseas employer in your experience section, helps an Australian reader understand who they are calling and why that person's view matters. Time zone differences mean it is worth telling your referee roughly when an Australian call is likely to land, so they are not caught off guard.
What to leave off the referees section
Do not list more than three referees; it reads as padding rather than thoroughness, and a panel will not call more than two or three regardless. Do not include referees you have not actually asked, and do not include a former manager you left on poor terms hoping they will not be contacted, because Australian employers do check, and an unprepared or negative reference undoes far more work than a strong resume can recover from.
The short version
- List two referees for most roles, three for senior positions, in their own section near the end of the resume.
- Naming referees directly with current contact details is the stronger Australian default; "available on request" is still accepted.
- Choose people who directly supervised your recent work over more senior but less familiar figures.
- Always ask permission first, and brief your referee on the roles you are applying for.
- Overseas referees are normal for international applicants; include the country code and useful context.