Whom Should You List and Why?

When a company asks for references during the recruitment process, it wants to learn more about your professional experience from people who have worked with you. Their opinions can complement the picture provided by your CV and interview, especially when supported by specific examples of your work, responsibility, and collaboration.

That is why choosing the right person to provide a reference deserves careful consideration. The most valuable reference comes from someone who knows your work well and can clearly explain your strengths. This could be a former supervisor, a colleague you collaborated with on a project, or a client for whom you completed specific tasks. Their position or job title matters less than how closely they know your work.

Also, consider the position you are applying for. If it requires organisation and coordination, a suitable choice would be someone who has worked with you on tasks involving deadlines and multiple participants. If the role requires expertise in a particular field, choose someone who can speak about your knowledge and achievements in that area. This way, the reference will help the employer understand how your previous experience could contribute to your new role.

If you are at the beginning of your career, you do not necessarily need a former employer to provide a reference. A mentor from an internship, a professor you worked with on a project, or a volunteer activity coordinator can speak about your approach to responsibilities, willingness to learn, and ability to work with others. Choose someone who has had the opportunity to get to know you through practical work.

Before providing someone's name and contact details, speak to them and ask for their permission. Explain the position you are applying for and why you believe their experience working with you is relevant. This conversation is also an opportunity to make sure they feel comfortable and prepared to recommend you.

It is helpful to send them the job advertisement or briefly explain the responsibilities of the position. You can also remind them of the projects and tasks you worked on together, especially if some time has passed since your collaboration. The goal is to give them enough context to provide an independent and honest opinion supported by examples.

Make sure the contact details are correct and agree on how the person would prefer to be contacted. If the employer has not requested references in the job advertisement, you can prepare them in advance and provide them when needed. If your job search is confidential, communicate this in advance and clarify when the person can be contacted, especially if they are someone from your current workplace.

A good reference provides a clear and credible picture of how you work. Therefore, choose people who know your abilities and can support their statements with actual experience of working with you. Their recommendation is most valuable when it helps the employer better understand what you can bring to the role.