The one-line convention
The last heading on the CV is References, and under it a single line: Available on request. That is the whole section. It does three jobs: it tells the employer you have referees ready, it keeps your referees from being cold-called by every company you apply to, and it saves two or three lines of a two-page limit for something that sells you.
The free builder adds the line with one tick, and every CV on the examples page ends the same way.
When you should name referees on the CV
- The job ad or application form asks for them. Public sector application forms often have referee fields, and leaving them blank can rule you out.
- A recruitment agency asks. Agencies frequently check references before they put you forward. Give the details to the agency, not on the CV that goes to the client.
- A speculative approach to a small employer where a known local name (a previous shop owner, a coach) opens the door. Even then, ask the referee first.
In every other case, keep the one line and have the sheet below ready to send.
The reference sheet: what to send when asked
Same font and header as your CV, one page, two referees, four lines each: name, job title and employer, how they know you and for how long, phone and email. Say that both have agreed to be contacted.
Who to ask
- Your most recent manager. Employers expect this one. If you have not told your current employer you are looking, say so at interview and offer a previous manager instead; that is normal and nobody will hold it against you.
- Someone who has seen you work. A supervisor, a shift leader, a client you dealt with directly. Job title matters less than whether they can describe what you actually did.
- For a first job: a teacher, year head or TY coordinator, a sports coach, a club or volunteer group leader, or a neighbour you have worked for regularly. Not a parent, aunt or family friend who has never seen you at work. The first-job CV guide covers what else stands in for experience.
Ask before you list anyone, tell them which job you have applied for, and send them your CV so the dates and titles match what they say. A referee who is surprised by the call is a weak referee.
What a reference actually says
Irish references are shorter and plainer than people fear. Citizens Information lists what one usually covers: how long you worked there, your responsibilities, your attendance record, your performance and your suitability for the new job. Many larger employers give only the first two (dates and job title) as policy. That is not a bad reference; it is a standard one.
Your rights: what an employer can and cannot do
- No right to a reference. There is no legal requirement for a current or former employer to give you one, and few contracts promise it. Employers usually do when asked, and if they give references to some employees they should give them to all without discrimination.
- It must be true, fair, accurate and not misleading. The employer owes a duty of care to you and to the new employer. An unfair or inaccurate reference that causes you harm can be grounds for a negligence claim; a defamatory one can be pursued under the Defamation Act 2009.
- You can ask to see it. Under GDPR you have a right of access to your personnel records, including written and recorded verbal references, unless the reference was given in confidence.
Source for the three points above: Citizens Information, leaving your job: getting references (read 22 September 2026). For a dispute, the Workplace Relations Commission gives information and advice.
Leaving a job and keeping the reference
The reference you get depends on how you leave. Give the notice your contract asks for, hand over properly and put the resignation in writing: the resignation letter samples show the wording. Ask your manager, before your last day, whether they are happy to be a referee. It is much easier to say yes in person than to a phone call six months later.
Frequently asked questions
Do you put references on a CV in Ireland?
Not the names. The Irish convention is one line at the end of the CV: "References available on request". You give names, job titles and contact details later, when the employer asks, usually after the interview. The exceptions are public sector application forms and some agencies, which ask for referees up front.
How many references do I need?
Two is standard. Most employers ask for two, and one of them should be your most recent manager. Have a third in reserve in case one cannot be reached.
Who can I use as a reference for my first job?
A teacher, year head or TY coordinator, a sports coach, the leader of a club or volunteer group, or anyone you have done regular unpaid work for who is not a relative. The point is that they have seen you turn up on time and do what you said you would.
Is my employer obliged to give me a reference?
No. There is no legal requirement in Ireland for a current or previous employer to provide a reference, and few contracts include the right to one. Most employers do give them when asked, and if they give them to some employees they should do so for all without discrimination (Citizens Information).
Can an employer give me a bad reference?
A reference has to be true, fair, accurate and not misleading; the employer owes a duty of care to you and to the new employer. If an unfair or inaccurate reference causes you harm you may have grounds to sue for negligence, or under the Defamation Act 2009 if it damaged your reputation. Under GDPR you can also ask to see a reference held on your file, unless it was given in confidence.
Should I put "References available on request" if I have no space?
Yes, keep the line. It closes the CV properly and tells the employer you have referees ready. It is one line; cut a duty bullet from an old job before you cut this.