Who you list as a referee could cost you the job offer. How to get it right on an Australian or NZ CV

You have found the right job in Australia or New Zealand, your CV is nearly ready, and then you reach the last heading: referees. Put the wrong names there, or names of people who do not expect a call, and a good application can stall at the final step, sometimes after the interview has already gone well. This article shows you who to choose as a referee, how to set out the section on an Australian resume or a New Zealand CV, when "referees available on request" is fine, and how to prepare the people you name so they can describe your work clearly.

In both countries, employers usually phone referees near the end of the hiring process, often after an interview and before an offer. That makes this small section one of the most important parts of the document, even though it is the last thing on the page.

What a referee does in Australia and New Zealand

A referee is a person who has seen your work and agrees to talk about it. When an employer calls, they usually want to confirm three things: that you worked where you say you worked, in the role you describe, and that you did the job well and safely. Some will also ask whether the referee would employ you again.

This is different from a written reference letter. A letter from a past employer is useful to keep and may be asked for, but many hiring managers in Australia and New Zealand still want to speak to a real person. A phone call lets them ask follow-up questions that a letter cannot answer.

Referees, references and reference checks

You will see these words used in slightly different ways:

• Referee: the person who speaks for you.
• Reference: what they say, or a written letter.
• Reference check: the call or email the employer makes to your referees.

On the CV itself, the heading is normally "Referees". If you are used to writing "References", change it; it is a small detail, but it shows you know how CVs are written in this part of the world.

Who to list as a referee

The strongest referee is the person who supervised your work most recently and can describe it in detail. A job title matters less than how well they know what you did day to day.

1. Your direct supervisor or manager from your most recent job. This is the first person most employers expect to see. If you cannot use your current manager because they do not know you are leaving, say so and offer another person from the same workplace.
2. A supervisor from the job before that. Two referees from two different employers give a fuller picture than two from the same team.
3. A senior colleague, leading hand or site foreman. In trades and construction, the person who checked your work on site may know it better than the office manager.
4. A client or contractor you worked for directly. Useful if you are self-employed or worked as a subcontractor, but choose someone who saw the finished work, not a friend.
5. A teacher, trainer or placement supervisor. Only if you are new to work, recently qualified or changing careers, and only for the part of your experience they saw.

Who not to list

• Family members or friends, even if you worked with them.
• Someone who has never seen your work, however senior they are.
• A person you have not spoken to in years, who may not remember the details.
• Anyone you have not asked first.

How many referees to give

Two is the usual number, and three is common for senior or long-term roles. If the job ad asks for a specific number, give exactly that number. If it asks for referees from your last two employers, follow that wording rather than choosing your favourite people.

How to set out the referees section

Keep the layout the same for each person, so the employer can find the phone number in a second. For each referee, list:

• Full name
• Their job title at the time they supervised you
• The workplace name and the city and country
• How they know you, in a few words ("my direct supervisor, 2021-2024")
• Phone number with the country code, and an email address

Example: a referees section for an Australian resume

Example: Tomas Reyes, a fictional carpenter applying for work in Brisbane, lists his referees like this:

Referees
Daniel Mensah, Site Supervisor, Harbour Lane Builders, Manila, Philippines. Supervised my framing and fit-out work, 2021-2024. Phone +63 917 555 0142. Email d.mensah@example.com
Grace Liu, Project Manager, Northpoint Construction, Cebu, Philippines. Managed the residential projects I worked on, 2018-2021. Phone +63 917 555 0178. Email g.liu@example.com

The names, businesses and numbers in this example are made up. Notice that each entry says how the person knows the work and gives the full international number, so an Australian employer can call without guessing the code.

Overseas referees: make them easy to reach

If your referees are outside Australia or New Zealand, the employer has to call across time zones and possibly in a second language. Help them:

• Always write the phone number with the country code, starting with +.
• Add an email address, because many overseas reference checks start by email.
• Add a short note if the referee prefers calls at certain times, such as "best reached 9am-5pm Manila time".
• Check that your referee is comfortable speaking English on the phone. If not, tell the employer which language they speak and offer another referee who can talk in English.

If your old workplace has closed or your manager has moved on, give the person's new contact details and a line explaining it, such as "now at another company; supervised me at Harbour Lane Builders 2021-2024".

"Referees available on request": when it works

Many Australian resumes end with the line "Referees available on request" instead of names. This is acceptable in Australia, especially when you are sending your resume to many employers and do not want your referees called before you have even spoken to the business. It also protects your referees' phone numbers if your resume is uploaded to several websites.

In New Zealand, it is more common to list referees in full on the CV, and many employers expect to see them. A line on request is not wrong there, but naming two people shows you are ready.

Use the full names when:

• The job ad asks for referees in the application.
• You are applying from overseas and want to show that your experience can be checked.
• You have strong referees and you want the employer to see who they are.

Use "available on request" when you are applying widely, your current employer does not know you are looking, or the CV is nearly full. Either way, have the full details ready to send the same day you are asked. A delay of a week at this stage can cost you the job.

For the full shape of the document in each country, the guide to writing a CV for Australia and the New Zealand CV guide cover length, photos, work rights and where referees sit. If you are on a temporary visa, the advice on showing your work rights on an Australian resume belongs near the top, not next to your referees.

How to ask someone to be your referee

Never put a name on your CV before the person agrees. A referee who is surprised by a call may sound unsure, and an unsure referee can undo a strong interview.

1. Ask first, by phone or message. Say which jobs you are applying for and ask if they are happy to be called.
2. Check their details. Confirm their current job title, phone number, email and the best time to call.
3. Remind them of your work. Send a short note with your dates, your role and two or three things you did well, such as a project you finished on time or a safety record you kept.
4. Send them the job ad. When an employer is likely to call, share the ad so your referee knows which skills matter.
5. Tell them when to expect a call. A quick message after your interview ("you may get a call from a manager in Perth this week") makes a big difference.
6. Thank them afterwards, whatever the result, and tell them if you got the job.

If you also hold old reference letters or service letters, keep them as PDFs ready to send. They do not replace a referee, but they back up what your referees will say. Some job seekers also keep their work history and references together in a candidate profile on Talent Tabloid, so an employer can see the background before they call.

Common mistakes with referees

• Old phone numbers. Call each number yourself before you send the CV.
• Only colleagues, no supervisors. Employers mainly want someone who managed your work.
• Referees who cannot speak to the job you are applying for. For a welding role, a referee from your welding job beats one from a cafe.
• Personal details that are not needed. Your referees' home addresses do not belong on your CV.
• Taking up half a page. Keep the section short; it should not push your work history onto another page. If your resume is already long, the tips on cutting an Australian resume to two pages can help.

Adding referees in Build AI CV

The Build AI CV editor walks through the CV in 12 steps with a live preview, and optional sections let you add only what helps. Because the preview updates as you type, you can see whether your referees fit neatly on the last page or push a heading onto a new one. If you are applying for different roles, Build AI CV lets you keep a separate CV for each job: 3 saved CVs and cover letters on the free plan, up to 25 with a Pro Pass. That makes it easy to keep one version with full referee details and another that says "referees available on request". Build my CV, it's free, or read how the editor works first.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to put referees on my resume in Australia?

No, it is not required. Many Australian resumes say "referees available on request", but you should have the full details ready the same day an employer asks for them.

How many referees should a New Zealand CV have?

Two is the usual number, ideally your two most recent supervisors. Give more only if the job ad asks for them.

Can I use an overseas referee for a job in Australia or New Zealand?

Yes. Many employers accept overseas referees, as long as they can reach them. Give the full international phone number, an email and the best time to call.

What if my current employer does not know I am leaving?

Use "referees available on request" or list a previous supervisor, and tell the employer you will give your current manager's details once an offer is likely.