Whether you’re fresh out of college or an experienced professional, having solid job references can make or break your chances during the hiring process. Recruiters and employers put a ton of weight on references because it allows them to gain valuable first-hand insight into your skills, achievements, work ethic and fit for the role.
But asking someone to be reference for a job isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. Who should you ask? What if you want to use a friend as a reference? How do you make the request without putting the person on the spot? What should you include in your reference request email?
This guide has got you covered. We’ll walk through tips on how to select the best references, examples of great reference relationships to leverage, and a proven email template for asking someone to be a reference that gets fantastic results. After reading this, you’ll be able to approach references with confidence and make a positive impression on potential employers.
Reference Relationship Examples
When employers are vetting job candidates, they place a ton of weight on references. That’s why choosing the right reference relationships is crucial – it can seriously elevate your chances of landing the gig. But who exactly should you ask to be a reference? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but generally you’ll want to go with people who can legitimately speak to your professional abilities.
Former bosses and supervisors are usually top picks. They’ve gotten an up-close look at how you operate and can vouch for your skills, achievements, strong work ethic and overall job fit. Coworkers who were team leads or more senior-level can also make for great references. They’ve collaborated with you on projects and can validate your technical know-how, problem-solving chops, communication style and reliability.
If you’re earlier in your career, former professors or academic advisors could be smart options as they can highlight your commitment to learning, academic performance and thought leadership in your field of study. Heck, clients or customers you had long-standing relationships with can potentially work well too if the role calls for entrepreneurial skills and topnotch service.
There may even be cases where listing a respected community leader, long-term volunteer contact or previous coworker from years back could pay off as a supplemental reference. While more untraditional, they can provide insight into your leadership abilities, integrity and overall character when positioned correctly.
The key is aiming for a well-rounded pool of references. Whether former higher-ups, standout colleagues, academic mentors or impactful personal connections, you want people who can comprehensively speak to the full spectrum of your qualifications and strengths. With a stacked lineup of glowing references, you’ll seriously amplify your candidate profile.
Who to Use as a Reference
Now that we’ve covered some example reference relationships, let’s dig deeper into who exactly you should tap to be a reference when job hunting.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to choose people who can speak directly to your professional abilities and accomplishments. That usually means former managers, supervisors, team leads, senior coworkers, mentors or professors. But there are also cases where other types of references can be impactful if positioned correctly.
Former Managers & Supervisors: These should be your first go-to options if possible. Former bosses have seen your work up close and can vouch for your skills, achievements, day-to-day performance, areas for growth and overall job fit. Since they oversaw your role directly, their recommendations carry a ton of weight.
Senior Colleagues & Mentors: If you can’t list a direct manager, look to senior coworkers, team leads or mentors that you closely collaborated with. They have visibility into your technical abilities, communication style, dedication and key projects you contributed to.
Long-Term Clients or Vendors: For certain roles, listing a long-term client, customer or vendor as a reference could be valuable. These references can underscore your entrepreneurial mindset, relationship management skills, ability to deliver on commitments and overall professionalism.
Professors & Academic Advisors: Early on in your career, professors or academic advisors who oversaw your education can be great professional references. They can highlight your academic performance, thought leadership in your field of study, commitment to learning and core competencies.
How to List a Friend as a Reference: Look, we get it – there may be scenarios where you want to use a friend as a job reference. Perhaps you’re making a career pivot and struggling to find other viable options. If that’s the case, you’ll need to be extremely strategic about how you position the relationship to employers:
First, only use a friend as a supplemental reference – not as your primary option. You’ll still want to prioritize listing more traditional professional references. When describing your friend’s relationship to you, use language like “colleague” to make it sound more workplace-appropriate. Something like “John was a colleague at Company X from 2018-2020. We worked alongside each other on the marketing team.”
You’ll also want to pick friends who can constructively speak to your professional abilities and accomplishments – not just personally endorse you. Maybe it’s a friend who spearheaded projects you contributed to, or someone who worked in a different department but frequently collaborated with your team.
Additionally, have a discussion with your friend beforehand to ensure they can provide a substantive, professional reference view. Explain the role you’re interviewing for and insights you’d like them to highlight regarding your background and qualifications. This prep work can help them deliver a more impactful reference.
At the end of the day, using a friend as a job reference isn’t ideal. But if handled correctly, it can potentially add value to your overall reference pool when other options are limited.
Reference Request Email Template
At this point, you should have a good idea of who to ask to be a reference and some examples of ideal reference relationships. But how exactly do you go about making the request? Asking someone to be a job reference requires some finesse. You don’t want to put the person on the spot or make them feel uncomfortable saying no.
The best approach is to send a polished email request that clearly explains the situation and what you’re asking of them. Follow these tips to make sure your reference request knocks it out of the park:
- Provide context on the job/role you’re interviewing for so they understand the purpose of the reference
- Specify what skills or experiences you’d like them to emphasize based on their knowledge of your work
- Express that you understand being a reference requires effort on their part, so they can feel free to decline if needed
- Thank them for considering your request, whether they accept or not
- Close by letting them know you’re available to discuss or provide any other info to help with their reference
Not sure how to piece that all together? Here’s a solid reference request email template you can customize:
Reference Request Email Template
Subject Line: Requesting a Job Reference
Hi [Name],
I hope you’re doing well! I’m reaching out because I’m currently interviewing for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. Given our positive working relationship at [Company/University] and your firsthand knowledge of my skills and accomplishments, I was hoping you would feel comfortable serving as a reference for me.
In particular, I’d really appreciate if you could speak to my:
- [Relevant skill 1] — Like when I [spearheaded accomplishment/project demonstrating that skill]
- [Relevant skill 2] — For example, my strengths in this area helped us [achieve positive outcome]
- [Relevant skill 3] — You always noted my [key strength/positive trait relevant to role]
Of course, if being a reference would require too much effort on your part right now, I completely understand. I’d be happy to fill you in with any additional context that could help. Either way, thank you so much for your consideration!
Please let me know if you have any other questions, or if you’d prefer we discuss this reference request over a quick call. I truly appreciate you taking the time.
Best regards, [Your name]
By sending a thorough, courteous email like the template above, you’ll make the request upfront while positioning yourself as a polished professional. The added context about the role and reference insights helps too. With an approach like this, you’re far more likely to get a “Yes!” and an insightful, enthusiastic reference.
Nailing Your References for the Job Hunt
There’s no denying that solid professional references can be a huge asset during your job search. With positive references vouching for your abilities and achievements, you’ll give yourself a major competitive edge over other candidates.
Hopefully this guide has helped demystify the reference process. You now understand why former managers and senior colleagues usually make ideal references, but there are absolutely cases where other relationships like professors, clients or community leaders can work well too. The key is being selective about who you ask and strategically positioning each person’s relationship to you.
You’ve also got a game plan for How to list a friend as a supplementary reference if absolutely needed – as long as you tactfully describe the relationship and ensure they can provide constructive professional insights. Just don’t rely too heavily on personal connections as your primary references.
Finally, you’re armed with a proven reference request email template that knocks it out of the park. By sending personalized, detailed requests, you increase your chances of receiving affirmative and enthusiastic responses. And at the end of the day, enthusiastic referrals can make all the difference when companies are deciding between final candidates.
So take these tips to heart as you line up your references. With some savvy planning and the right approach, you can fill out your reference list with shining endorsements that elevate you in employers’ eyes. Just one more way to help land your dream job and level up your career.
