{"id":3441,"date":"2022-07-05T02:12:12","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T02:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/?p=3441"},"modified":"2026-04-01T01:46:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:46:36","slug":"tips-for-choosing-referees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/candidate-resources\/tips-for-choosing-referees\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for choosing referees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Checking references is often the final step in the recruitment process. A strong reference can help secure a job offer, while a poor one can stop the process altogether. That is why it is essential to choose the right referees when applying for a job. Here are Skillset\u2019s top tips:<\/p>\n

\n

Selecting a Referee<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A referee should be someone who can speak about your recent work performance, skills and abilities. Ideally, this is a person who has managed you or held a senior role in an organisation where you worked. They should be able to comment on your work within the last three years.<\/p>\n

If you are new to the workforce or starting your career, think creatively. Consider:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Sporting coaches<\/li>\n
  • Recent teachers or university tutors<\/li>\n
  • Senior people at organisations where you volunteered<\/li>\n
  • Supervisors from work placements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Avoid using family or friends. Employers want an accurate assessment of your work performance, not personal opinions.<\/p>\n

    You will usually need at least two referees, so start with a list of four or five people you can approach.<\/p>\n

    Organise Your Referees Early<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Set up your referees before submitting applications. Recruiters rarely wait for candidates to find referees, so have your list ready when you begin your job search.<\/p>\n

    Get Their Permission First<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Always ask someone before listing them as a referee. This is courteous and ensures they are available. Referee checks often happen quickly, so confirm they will be reachable. A phone call or face-to-face conversation is better than a text or email, as it shows respect for their time.<\/p>\n

    Make It Easy for Your Referee<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    If someone agrees to be a referee, provide them with:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Details about the role or type of work you are applying for<\/li>\n
    • A copy of your CV<\/li>\n
    • Why you chose them as a referee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      For example:
      \n\u201cI was hoping you could be a referee for my application for an administration officer position. I thought you could share your experience of my work as a receptionist when you were a senior manager at Company X.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Also confirm the best phone number for the recruiter to contact them.<\/p>\n

      Keep in Contact<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Once your referees are confirmed, keep them updated. Let them know when you apply for a job and when they might be contacted. If you are successful, thank them for their support. Maintaining this relationship is important, you may need their help again in the future.<\/p>\n

      Choosing the right referees can make a big difference to your job search. By planning ahead and keeping your referees informed, you can improve your chances of success.<\/p>\n

      Ready to start your job search?<\/strong> Make your referee list today and set yourself up for success.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Checking references is often the final step in the recruitment process. A strong reference can help secure a job offer, while a poor one can stop the process altogether. That is why it is essential to choose the right referees when applying for a job. Here are Skillset\u2019s top tips: Selecting a Referee A referee…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[57,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-candidate-resources","category-career-support"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3441"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7018,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441\/revisions\/7018"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/7017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}