How to Choose and Brief Your Job References

A good referee can describe work they observed directly. A former supervisor, field-placement mentor or volunteer coordinator who knows your work can give more specific examples than a senior contact who rarely worked with you.

Match each referee to the role

For a teaching application, a head of department might describe your classroom planning and assessment. For an office role, a records supervisor could comment on accuracy and deadlines. Follow the advert if it asks for a specific type of referee.

Ask before sharing contact details

Tell the person which role you are applying for and ask whether they are comfortable being contacted. Confirm their current job title, organisation, phone number and professional email before adding those details.

Send a brief they can use

Share the job description, your latest CV and two projects they observed. A useful note is: “The role requires stock records and reporting. You supervised my Friday stock reconciliations and the monthly handover report.”

Keep the reference list current

If the employer requests references later, keep a separate sheet ready. Once an interview reaches reference checks, tell your referees who may call and update them after the process ends.

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