Your profile · 5 min read
Who should I ask for a job reference?
A recent manager who saw your work is best. Ask early, tell them about the role, and remind them of two things you did.
The short answer
Ask people who have seen your work recently and can speak about it in detail: ideally a current or recent manager, then a senior colleague, client or supervisor from a project. Ask before you list them, tell them what role you're going for and what it needs, and remind them of two or three things you did that are relevant. If you can't ask your current employer yet, explain this to the new employer; most expect it.
On this page 4 sections
Who makes a good referee
| Referee | Why |
|---|---|
| Recent line manager | Saw your work and can speak to results |
| Senior colleague or project lead | Saw you in action on specific work |
| Client or customer | Shows how you work with others |
| Tutor or volunteer coordinator | Good for early-career or career changers |
How to ask
'Hi Sam, I'm applying for a project manager role at Brightwave. Would you be comfortable being a reference? It focuses on running cross-team projects, so the warehouse system switch we did together would be really relevant. Happy to send the job description.'
Keep them in the loop
- Tell them when they might be contacted.
- Send the job post and your CV.
- Thank them, and tell them how it went.
OffLadder CV, our free Chrome extension, shows which of a post's must-haves your CV already shows and rewrites it for that job, checking every change against the CV you gave it.
Questions people ask
- Can I use a friend as a reference?
- Not usually for a professional reference. A character reference from someone who knows you well can help if you have little work history.
- What if I don't want my current employer to know?
- Say so. Employers usually wait to contact a current employer until after an offer, and offers are often conditional on references.
- What if I left on bad terms?
- Use another manager or senior colleague from that employer, or someone from a project. Some employers only confirm dates and job title.
- Do I put references on my CV?
- No. Provide them when asked. 'References available on request' is optional and can be left out.
- How many references do I need?
- Usually two, sometimes three. Have a third ready in case someone is away.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
How this page is written
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