7 Other Ways to Say “References Available Upon Request”

“References available upon request” appears in resumes all the time. It shows employers that you are willing to provide references. This article will look into how to say “references available upon request” in different ways. Here are the best options

• References available if needed
• You may enquire about references
• Happy to provide references
• References will be provided
• Will share references upon request
• References at the ready
• References available

Other ways to say “references available upon request” are “references available if needed,” “you may enquire about references,” and “happy to provide references.” These alternatives show potential employers that you have a list of references to back up your resume content positively.

1. References Available if Needed

“References available if needed” is great to use when thinking about what to say instead of “references available upon request.” “If needed” is more concise, showing that you will only provide them if an employer “needs” to see them.

• References available if needed. I have a few people willing to discuss matters with you.
• I’ll include “references available if needed” on my resume so that I don’t have to share your contact details.

2. You May Enquire About References

“You may enquire about references” is a great alternative. It helps you understand how to say “references available upon request” more formally.

“You may enquire” is a polite way to show an employer that you are willing to provide references. If they choose to “enquire,” you’ll be happy to provide anything they might need to know.

• You may enquire about references to learn more about my capabilities.
• You may enquire about references. I’m happy to share information from previous employers.

3. Happy to Provide References

“Happy to provide references” is great in a resume, though you might be a little limited on where you can use it. It’s best to use “happy” in this phrase when you’re applying to a less formal job (i.e. one where you don’t feel like you have to impress the potential employer.

This is because “happy to provide” is a little informal. It shows that you’re approachable and a good candidate, but you should watch your usage of it.

• I’m happy to provide references if you need them. Let me know if you’re interested.
• Happy to provide references at this time. Please, contact me if you’d like to hear from them.

4. References Will Be Provided

“References will be provided” is a good alternative to use. It shows that you’ll provide references at a later time (usually suggesting the interview stage, as that tends to come after the resume).

This means the employer doesn’t have to request them. Instead, you can provide them with references when you come to the interview to show them what you’re like as a worker.

• References will be provided. I’ll give you a professional and personal reference if needed.
• References will be provided at the next stage if you would like them.

5. Will Share References Upon Request

“Will share references upon request” shows that you “will” actively share references as long as an employer asks for them. If they choose not to ask for references, then you do not have to share them.

Including “will share” shows you’re happy to share the references. It means they are available and positive for you, so you would love to share them if it helps your hiring potential.

• I will share references upon request. I’m happy to share their details with you.
• Will share references upon request. Until then, I’m happy to share more about myself.

6. References at the Ready

“References at the ready” means you have references but have not included them in the bulk of your resume. It is a more jovial way to let an employer know that you will be happy to share your references, but they need to enquire about them first.

This works better informally, so you should know your audience before including it in your resume.

• References at the ready whenever you need them. Email me if you’d like to hear from them.
• References at the ready. Will be happy to share information about them when needed.

7. References Available

“References available” is the simplest alternative you can use. It shows that you’re willing to provide “available” references without expressing that you need to be “asked.”

You can remove “upon request”, and the meaning will stay the same. It shows that you’re happy to share references, but only if the employer asks for them.

• References available. I’ll share the details with you if you’re interested in hearing from them.
• References are available. I would like to share them if you’re interested.

What Does “References Available Upon Request” Mean?

“References available upon request” is a way to save a bit of space on your resume. It shows a potential employer that you’re willing to share references as long as they ask to see them.

Unfortunately, it’s a fairly redundant phrase. Most potential employers will already expect you to have references ready to use. They will ask you if they want a reference from you regardless of whether “references available upon request” is mentioned in your resume.

Is It Correct to Say “References Available Upon Request”?

“References available upon request” is correct to say. “Upon request” shows that you will not provide references until someone “requests” to see them. You may also find that “references available on request” works as well. “Upon” and “on” are synonymous here.

It’s a great way to show that you have references but don’t want to share them and waste valuable space in your resume.

Here are some examples of how you might include it:

• References available upon request. Please contact me to find out more.
• Plenty of references available upon request. Will be happy to share details with you.

If you choose to include it, you should only include the phrase at the end of the resume. It’s best to place it in the footer, so it doesn’t take up more room than necessary.

If you are in doubt about whether you should include “references available upon request”, it will be useful to take a look at our other article that answers this question: Should I Put “References Available Upon Request” on My CV?