You’ve been asked to provide a list of references for a job…yikes! Who do you ask to be a reference and what should your list look like? Never fear. It’s all covered here.

Once upon a time, you used the statement “References Available Upon Request” on your resume.

This statement is no longer necessary. Everyone knows you’ll provide references when asked. See what a modern resume looks like.

In fact, when you apply for a job, you might sometimes be asked to provide reference names and contact information. (Don’t provide that information on an application though. Type in “will supply during interview.”)

So what does your list of references include?

Your Reference List Is More Than Names and Contact Info

Technically, all you need to supply is the name and contact information for your references.

However, there is one question every hiring manager has when reading your list of references- “How does this person know your work?”

Answer that question and you’ll make your list of references more valuable!

Who To List As A Reference

Putting together the right list of references for a job will increase the chances of your landing the position. Choose carefully!

Anyone you do decide to list should speak positively about you.

Manager or Past Boss

Typically, references are managers or supervisors who you’ve reported into. But that doesn’t always apply.

What if your past manager didn’t like you (or you didn’t get along or you aren’t sure they’d say great things about you.)

If this is the case, select a peer or colleague, or someone else in the organization you worked closely with.

Colleague or Peer

Someone you used to work with may know better than your manager.

Volunteer Leaders

If you actively volunteered somewhere or served on a committee, a reference from someone in that organization can show skills other than those you used in a paid job.

Direct Reports

If you managed people, they can serve as a reference on how you manage and lead.

Others

Pick the people who will say the best things about your work ethic and skills as they relate to the job you are applying to.

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, you could choose a professor you had a strong relationship with. If you have a strong working relationship with a client, they could serve as a reference. Or, you could even choose someone you have a strong working relationship with or someone (other than a relative) who can speak to your strengths.

How To Ask Someone To Be A Reference

Great, you’ve identified 3-5 people who will make good references, now you have to get their permission.

Never assume someone will be a reference for a job and list them. You need to ask first.

If you can identify 5 people contact them all. This gives you the flexibility of selecting the best 3 for each job you apply to.

Send each reference an email or call them and ask if they would be willing to serve as a reference. Also tell them you will keep them updated on any jobs that might be contacting them. Be sure to keep them updated on jobs where you’ve submitted your references.

Some employers have a policy that states employees can’t provide professional references. However, they can serve as a personal reference. Just make note of that in your reference list.

What Information To Include On Your Reference List

All you need to do is describe your relationship with each of your references. When you provide a one-sentence description of how each person knows your work, it will help in the outreach and questioning during a reference check.

There’s another reason this is important. The references you list may not work at the same company any longer, due to the fact that people change jobs so frequently.

When you describe how the person knows your work, indicate what role they held and how long they’ve known you and your work.

If there was an important project, you may want to reference that as well.