Referees and References

In the context of job seeking a referee is a person who is prepared to vouch for you either as a worker or as a person of good character. A reference usually refers to a written letter of endorsement for you, again in the context of your work or as an individual.

Your referees should be people who not only have a posit ive opinion of you and are able to articulately comment on your interactions and abilities in a particular context, but they should also be credible and appropriate to the position you are applying for.

You are forging a working relationship with your referee, asking them to be your advocate, so it is essential that they know of recent achievements and understand your current career goals. It is important to keep in regular contact with your referees to ensure they are still happy to be a referee for you. They must know what you are applying for and know to expect a call from the potential employer. To gain the most benefit from your referee's comments it is important that you ensure that the contact details are correct and clarify ongoing contact expectations.

You must include your referee's name, position and company/association to give credibility. However a telephone contact through a company switchboard is preferable to a personal telephone number or a mobile number. Similarly a business email would be preferable to a personal email address. Respect the privacy of your referee and only include necessary contact information.

Written references are no longer sought or even accepted by many employees. The fear of litigation has undermined the practice of written references. In addition the increased accessibility of most people through email and mobile phones has negated the need to retain a written reference.

Written references may still be used under certain circumstances, more commonly as part of a personal portfolio rather than as part of the job application, if they are

•  highlighting a particular achievement e.g. as a letter of thanks or commendation

•  reflecting a school leaver's achievements and character in the school environment

•  an outstanding recommendation from a highly respected person.

Jenni Proctor October 2005