Is the references section still necessary?

For many years, one of the "unwritten rules" of resume building was adding a "References" section at the very end, or at least including the phrase "References available upon request." But is this approach still valid under 2026 hiring standards?

Short answer: No, you most likely do not need it. Let's explore in detail why this outdated tradition no longer works and what you should focus on instead.

1. Why is the phrase "Available upon request" unnecessary?

Think about it: If a company decides they want to conduct a background check before hiring you, they will naturally ask for the contact information of your references. Explicitly stating "I will provide them if you want" on your resume offers no new information to HR. This sentence simply wastes the most valuable resource on your resume: white space. You could use that golden line to highlight an additional skill or a significant achievement instead.

2. When does the reference check process actually happen?

The hiring process consists of several stages. In the initial stage, HR has neither the plan nor the time to call your former manager.

Reference checks are typically conducted in the final stages of interviewing, right before an official job offer is extended to the candidate. In other words, by the time references are needed, your resume has already done its job and gotten you in the room.

3. The issue of privacy and ethics

Sharing the name, workplace, and personal mobile number of your former boss, professor, or colleague on a widely accessible resume file without their explicit permission is both unethical and a violation of data protection laws in some regions (such as GDPR). Prepare the contact details of your references in a separate, dedicated PDF document. When HR requests it, call those individuals first to give them a heads-up, saying, "Someone from [Company Name] will be contacting you," and only then send the file to HR.

There is only one exception: If the job posting explicitly and specifically requires you to "include at least 2 references on your resume," then you must follow their instructions.