Should You Put References on Your Resume?

No. Do not put references directly on your resume, and do not include the line "References available upon request." Both waste space that could be used for accomplishments and qualifications. Every employer knows they can ask for references — you do not need to tell them.

Instead, prepare a separate reference sheet that matches your resume's formatting (same font, same header) and bring it to interviews or submit it when specifically requested. This is standard practice across both private and federal sectors. Your resume's job is to get you the interview. Your references' job is to close the deal after the interview goes well.

The exception is federal applications through USAJOBS. Some federal job announcements specifically request references as part of the application package. In that case, follow the announcement's instructions exactly — include the number of references they ask for in the format they specify. The federal resume guide covers federal-specific requirements in detail.

Who Should Veterans List as References?

Choosing the right references is more important than most veterans realize. A strong reference does not just confirm that you worked somewhere — they advocate for you specifically for the role you are pursuing. The best references can speak to your skills, work ethic, and accomplishments in concrete terms.

Former commanding officers or supervisors. Your direct chain of command is the most credible source for professional references. A former platoon leader, company commander, department head, or division officer who supervised your daily work can speak to your performance, reliability, and leadership with authority. Choose supervisors who knew your work well — a battalion commander who barely interacted with you is less valuable than a platoon sergeant who worked alongside you daily.

Senior NCOs who mentored you. If you were enlisted, a senior NCO (E-7 and above) who directly supervised or mentored you carries significant weight. These leaders observed your technical skills, leadership development, and daily performance. They can provide detailed examples of your work that officers at higher levels may not have visibility into.

Military peers in leadership roles. A fellow service member who worked alongside you and has since transitioned into a civilian leadership role makes an excellent reference. They understand military terminology (so they can translate for civilian employers) and they hold a current civilian position (which adds credibility with civilian hiring managers).

Civilian contacts from SkillBridge or internships. If you did a SkillBridge program, internship, or any civilian work during your transition, your supervisor from that experience is a highly valuable reference. They can speak to your ability to perform in a civilian work environment, which directly addresses the concern some employers have about veterans adjusting to civilian workplace culture.

Professors or training instructors. If you are using your GI Bill or completed significant professional development, an instructor who knows your work quality can serve as a reference. This is especially useful for career changers whose military experience does not directly match their target field — a cybersecurity professor can validate your technical skills in ways a former infantry platoon leader cannot.

The ideal mix. For most transitioning veterans, the strongest reference list includes a combination: one or two former military supervisors who can speak to your leadership and performance, one peer who has successfully transitioned and can vouch for your adaptability, and one civilian contact (SkillBridge supervisor, professor, or networking connection) who can address your ability to operate in a civilian environment. This combination gives the employer multiple perspectives on your capabilities and directly addresses the most common concern — whether a veteran can make the cultural transition to their organization.

Dominic Landed a Six-Figure Role
With a Top Defense Firm.

"The most effective resource I used in my transition."
— Dominic, E-7, Marines

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Who Should You Avoid Listing?

Not every person who knows you makes a good professional reference. Avoid these common mistakes:

Family members. Never list relatives regardless of their professional credentials. Even if your uncle is a retired general, the relationship disqualifies them as an objective reference. Employers expect references who can speak to your professional performance without personal bias.

Friends who cannot speak to your work. A buddy from your unit who you grab beers with is not a professional reference unless they directly supervised or worked alongside you in a professional capacity. The test is simple: can this person describe your specific work accomplishments and skills? If they can only say you are a good person, they are not the right reference.

Supervisors you had conflicts with. If you had a difficult relationship with a particular commander or NCO, do not list them hoping they will be fair. Choose references who you are confident will speak positively and specifically about your performance. You have enough people in your military career to avoid anyone who might be lukewarm.

People you cannot reach. Military careers mean people move constantly. If you have not spoken to a potential reference in years and cannot confirm their current contact information, do not list them. A hiring manager who calls a reference number and gets a disconnected line or no response reflects poorly on you, not the reference.

References from too long ago. A supervisor from 15 years ago who barely remembers your name is not going to give a compelling reference. Focus on the last 5-7 years of your career. These references can speak to your most recent performance, your current skill level, and your trajectory. Older references are only useful if you had an exceptional relationship and they can still speak specifically about your work.

How Should You Format Your Reference List?

Your reference sheet should be a clean, professional document that matches your resume's style. Include these details for each reference:

• Full name and rank/title — Use their current title. If they are retired military, include both: "COL (Ret.) James Wilson, Director of Operations, Lockheed Martin"
• Current position and organization — Where they work now, not where they worked when you served together
• Relationship to you — "Former direct supervisor, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (2020-2022)" or "SkillBridge internship supervisor, Amazon Web Services (2024)"
• Phone number — The number they actually answer. Ask which number they prefer to receive professional calls on
• Email address — Professional email, not a personal Gmail if possible. Many defense contractors and government employees prefer to be contacted by email first

List 3-5 references. Three is the minimum most employers expect. Five gives you coverage if one or two are unavailable. Rank them strategically — put the reference most relevant to your target role first, as that is likely the one the employer will call. If you are applying for a project management role, your reference who can speak to your planning and execution skills goes at the top. If it is a technical role, lead with the reference who can validate your technical expertise.

How Do You Prepare Your References?

The biggest mistake veterans make with references is listing people without telling them. A reference who gets a surprise phone call from an employer they have never heard of gives a weaker response than one who was briefed and prepared.

Ask permission first. Contact each reference personally — phone call or email, not text — and ask if they are willing to serve as a professional reference. Explain what type of roles you are targeting so they can tailor their responses. Most former supervisors are happy to help, but they need to know you are listing them.

Brief them on the role. When you apply for a specific position, send your references a quick email with the job title, company name, and 2-3 things you would like them to emphasize. "I am applying for a Project Manager role at Boeing. If they call, it would help if you could mention the deployment logistics project I led and the $2M budget I managed." This is not coaching them to lie — it is helping them highlight the most relevant parts of your work together.

Provide your resume. Send each reference a copy of your current resume so they know how you are presenting your experience. This ensures their stories align with what you told the employer. If your resume says you "managed a 30-person team," your reference should not say "he had about 10 people" — not because either number is wrong, but because inconsistency raises questions.

Keep them updated. Let your references know when you use them and when the hiring process is complete. A quick "thanks for being a reference — I got the offer" or "the position went to another candidate but I appreciate your support" maintains the relationship for future use. References who feel appreciated are references who stay enthusiastic.

Translate military context for civilian references. If your reference is a civilian (SkillBridge supervisor, professor, civilian colleague), they do not need military translation help. But if your reference is a retired military leader, remind them that the employer may not understand military terminology. Suggest they describe your accomplishments in civilian business language rather than military jargon — "he managed complex logistics operations for a 200-person organization" rather than "he was the S4 for a battalion-sized element during OEF."

How Many References Do You Need?

The standard is three to five professional references. Most employers ask for three. Having five prepared gives you flexibility to choose the most relevant ones for each application.

For federal applications, follow the specific instructions in the job announcement — some require three, others require five, and some specify the types of references they want (supervisory only, professional only, or a mix). Federal HR offices actually call references more consistently than private sector employers, so your federal reference list needs to be especially well-prepared. If a federal announcement asks for supervisory references specifically, do not substitute peers or personal contacts — the HR specialist will note the discrepancy and it can count against you in the evaluation.

For security clearance positions, your references may also be contacted as part of the background investigation — separate from the employment reference check. The investigators will ask about your character, reliability, and trustworthiness. This is another reason to choose references who know you well and think highly of your work and character.

Build your reference list while you are still in the military if possible. It is much easier to collect contact information from supervisors and peers while you are all still in uniform than to track them down two years later through LinkedIn messages and outdated phone numbers. Start a document with names, ranks, contact info, and your working relationship — you will be glad you did when an employer asks for references on short notice.

Also see how to write a professional summary.

Related: How to write a professional summary that gets you hired and how to write work experience sections on your resume.

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