Who To Use for Job References: 10 Ideas

Interviewing and getting hired for a new job can be a multistep process. From preparing your resume and writing cover letters to going through multistage job interviews, it can all feel like a lot! However, you’ll know you’re doing well and getting to (almost) the end of the process when you’re asked for your references.

Whether you’re applying for a summer job, a new full-time job, or a freelance job, you’re going to need job references who can back up your professional skills and experience to prospective employers.

What is a job reference?

When applying for a job, a job reference is anyone who knows you well enough to back up and endorse your experience, skills, character, and work ethic to a potential employer. They can be current or former colleagues, bosses, friends, or maybe even college professors (if you’re a recent graduate).

Professional vs. personal references

As a job seeker, you may need two main types of references during your job search: professional and personal.

Professional references

Any individual who can back up your work experience and skills counts as a professional reference. They must be willing to recommend you to a potential client or employer. This could be previous employers or clients, bosses, colleagues, or any other contacts who may be able to attest to your work skills and achievements.

Personal references

If you’re new to working or changing careers, you may not have many professional references yet. This is when you would use a personal or character reference to recommend you for the job. Character references can also be a requirement for certain positions of trust. Personal references can be a friend, an academic advisor, a coach, or any individual who can speak to your personality and positive traits.

How to ask someone to be a reference

Asking someone in person to be a reference can put them on the spot. Unless you regularly see this person and feel comfortable asking them, you can send an email. Even if you ask them in person, you’ll want to send a follow-up with all of the important information, like the position you’re applying for and an updated resume.

Some of your professional references, like your supervisor or professor, are likely used to being references. For others, this may be their first time getting a reference request. When sending a reference request email, make sure that you’re asking them for permission and not telling them that you’re using them as a reference.

Always get someone’s permission before adding them as a reference. Your references should be willing volunteers, so they speak enthusiastically and positively about you.

Reference request template

When sending your reference request, you don’t want to tell your references what to say, but you can remind them of the projects you’ve worked on together and explain what the hiring manager is looking for in a follow-up. Your references for a job should feel comfortable; remember, they’re doing you a favor. Make sure to explain briefly why you want them to be a reference.

Reference request template:

Subject: Job Reference Request

Hi [name],

I hope you’re doing well. How has [company, position, project they’re working on, or personal interest] been?

I’m applying for the [position] at [company] and wanted to see if you’d be willing to be a reference. You came to mind because of [projects you’ve worked on or how you know each other]. I think your perspective on my work ethic and [choose one or two skills] would be valuable to the hiring manager.

If you feel comfortable with this, please let me know, and I can send you my updated resume, the job description, and details about what the hiring manager is looking for in an ideal candidate.  

I appreciate your time and consideration!

Thank you,

[Full name]

[Contact information]

Example of job reference list entry

When creating your list of professional references, make sure you include their contact information and a quick sentence about your relationship. Here’s an example:

Lindsey Matos

Sr. Mechanical Engineer and Engineering Manager

EcoCurrent Engineering Co.

1234 W Innovation Drive,

Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003

(602) 555-7643

L.Matos@EcoCurrent.co

I worked with Lindsey for two years, reporting to her while I was an intern.

How to format a reference

When writing your list of references for a job, make sure they all follow the same format to make it easier for the recruiter or hiring manager to use. Start with your best references at the top of the list; they are likely the ones who will be contacted first.

Format:

Name

Job title

Company or university

Address

Phone number

Email

Relationship to the reference

Tip: If you’re applying for multiple jobs and don’t want your references contacted until the final stages, you can put “Available upon request” for the reference's phone number and email address.

Creating a list of job references

If you’re getting ready to apply for a job, you’ll want to prepare a list of references too. Don’t wait until you’re asked for a reference to try and figure out who to use!

Who you ask to give you a reference will depend on your circumstances. If you have a considerable amount of work experience, professional references are almost certainly more important than personal. However, if you’re a college graduate new to work, are coming back to work after a long hiatus, are changing fields, or are looking for a position in which people need to know they can trust you, you may need personal references.

Make sure to select references who are able to speak specifically about your qualifications for the job you’re applying to. You may even want to share a job description with them, so they can decide which of your qualities to highlight most.

You’ll also want to give your potential references a heads-up before you list them as one. Don’t take it for granted that everyone you consider will be willing and able to provide you with a reference. Some people may not be too keen on providing recommendations, so give them the opportunity to say no.

Here are some ideas for who you could ask for references and add to your list if they agree.

Professional reference examples

You’ll want a variety of people you’ve had professional relationships with to make up your list of professional references. Many companies ask for three types of professional references: supervisor, peer, and direct reports.

1. Current supervisor

A current boss or supervisor is probably the best person to speak to your professional skills, work ethic, and your suitability for the new role—especially if you’re leaving on good terms. However, you may not yet want your current employer to know you’re looking for a new job. In this case, including a current supervisor in your reference list isn’t possible. Consider asking coworkers or colleagues you trust to be your references instead.

If including current managers or colleagues is completely off the table, explain why when you provide your potential employer with your list of references.

2. Prior bosses

If a current manager is a no-go, the next best thing is to ask a former employer or manager to be your reference. As someone who has been your boss and directly supervised you, they’re very credible references.

3. Coworkers

In addition to bosses, you should also consider asking coworkers (present and former) to give you recommendations. Make sure it’s not just a casual friend from work, but someone you’ve actually collaborated with and can attest to your suitability for your new role.

4. Professors

If you’re a new graduate, professional references may be harder to come by. You could consider asking a college professor if you have a good personal relationship with them. It would of course be ideal if the professor teaches in a field related to the job you’re applying for, as this would make their reference more credible.

5. Clients

If you’re an independent professional, nothing says more about your work than a testimonial from a previous client. A glowing recommendation tells a potential client that you can not only deliver the work but do it well!

If you’re on Upwork, you may already know that client feedback is crucial for ongoing success. When a contract ends, clients usually leave you feedback as part of that process. This feedback shows up in the work history section of your profile. A good review shows potential clients that you’re capable and have impressed other clients with your work. You can also request a longer reference letter through Messages conversations.

Upwork also enables you to add testimonials for work you’ve done off the platform. Learn how to request testimonials from external clients.

Personal reference examples

If your potential client or employer has asked for character references, or if you don’t have enough professional references to make your list complete, consider adding personal references to your list as well.

6. Group members

This one is particularly applicable to new graduates. If you worked on group projects, consider including one of your group members as a reference to speak about your work on the project.

7. People you’ve volunteered with

If you actively volunteer with an organization (or have previously), it’s a great idea to include it in your resume. Additionally, ask a supervisor or peer from the organization if they will provide a reference during your job search as they can attest to your contributions firsthand.

8. Academic advisors

Like a professor, an academic advisor from college can be a great academic reference if they’ve known you well personally. They can speak of your academic achievements as well as your personality traits, depending on how well they know you.

9. Coaches

Former teachers, mentors, or coaches can also be a great choice if you’re short on references. A coach you worked or trained with probably has a good idea of your work ethic and conscientiousness, and can speak to them. They may also have insight to your leadership capabilities.

Who not to include in your reference list

Now that you know who to consider for your reference list, let’s quickly discuss who NOT to include. After all, your references must be credible so they can provide your potential employers or clients with the assurance that you’re the right person for the job.

In general, you want to avoid including:

1. Family members

Your references should be individuals who can credibly speak of your professional or personal achievements. Family members are inherently biased, and including them may come off as unprofessional.

2. Someone who doesn’t know you well

This might seem like an obvious one but don’t be tempted to include people on your list who don’t know you well. For example, you may be tempted to include the head of your department as a reference because it looks good on your list. However, if they’ve never directly supervised your work, they aren’t really in a position to speak about your professional strengths and skills. Your direct manager would be a much better choice of reference.

3. Friends

Including friends on a reference list isn’t a complete no-no. If you’ve worked with a friend or have some professional connection with the friend, it’s OK to include them on your list. If not, like family members, it’s best to leave them off.

How many references do you need?

How many references you need will depend on the role you’re going after or on your future employer. Standard practice is to have at least three references ready for most roles. More senior roles may require more, so consider having at least five to seven people on your list.

You don’t need to submit your list of references when you send in your job application. Send in the list only when asked by the recruiter or future employer. When providing your references, be sure to include their name, job title, and their contact information, such as phone number and email for a reference check.

If you’re an independent professional, clients may not ask for references in the same way as traditional jobs do, but they certainly want to hear from other people you’ve worked with. A good practice is to make your client feedback and testimonials available right from the get-go. Include them on your Upwork profile, your website, and your LinkedIn page.

Have all your references? What’s next?

A great reference from a former boss or client can go a long way toward verifying your work and character to future employers and clients. Have your list ready to go when you begin your job search or at least before the interview process begins.

If you’re an independent professional, consider adding your client testimonials to your Upwork profile to help you get a leg up in finding work on the platform. When you apply for jobs on the human and AI-powered work marketplace, clients will see your testimonials as proof of the quality of your work. Of course, creating a profile isn’t all it takes. You must also write compelling proposals to win jobs.

Win a job, do great work, add to your list of great client feedback. As you continue to do this, you’ll be on your way to building a successful freelance business. Consistently good references and feedback from clients will help you to stand out in the marketplace and continue to attract new clients to your business.

Haven’t joined the world’s leading human and AI-powered work marketplace yet? Sign up for a freelancer account on Upwork and start building your freelancing business today.