You will come across a request for a reference list as part of the hiring process in most industries. These employment references are your colleagues, supervisors, managers, and anyone that you have worked closely with in a professional capacity and can vouch for your expertise and skills. Creating a polished and organized list of employment references can be made simpler with WordLayouts’ employment reference template.
The design of the template allows you to list down the information about your references in proper format. It starts with text fields where you can add your details like name, email address, address, and contact number.
Next, you can add information about the references for which spaces are provided:
- Reference Name: Write the full name of the reference.
- Title: Provide the professional title of the reference. For example, Senior Accounts Manager
- Company Name: Provide the full name of the company where the reference works or has worked in the past.
- Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code: Write the street address along with other details like city, state name, and zip code.
- Phone Number: Write the phone number of the reference. It is best to include their work number here. If your reference resides in another country, make sure to include the country code correctly.
- Email Address: The email address should ideally be their professional one.
- Professional Relationship with Reference: Explain briefly but clearly the details of your professional relationship. For example, Mira was my direct supervisor during my time as a Marketing Associate at XYZ.
- Work from date to date: Specify the duration that you have worked together. Use the month and year format for clarity—for example, June 2018 – August 2022.
Employment references are a critical part of the job application process. Most employers want to verify the information presented in your CV and to know more about your personality by contacting the people you have worked with.
When you are just starting out in your career, you can provide up to three references. However, for more experienced positions, it is best to provide at least five references. When compiling your list, there are a few things to keep in mind for making sure that you get the most supportive feedback:
- Create a selection of employer references so that if one is unavailable, the hiring team can choose someone else from the list.
- Include those references who can provide different perspectives on your skills and experience. For instance, your departmental head can provide feedback on your expertise and punctuality, while a team member can vouch for your approachable personality and teamwork spirit.
- Do not include references only based on their title or position in the company. Try to include those individuals who you have closely worked with and who can speak convincingly about your strengths and suitability for the role.
- Always seek permission from the people you include in your reference list. To ensure they are ready for any correspondence as a reference check, it is also a good idea to notify them as soon as you have turned in your list.
By using this template for compiling your employment reference list, not only will you present an organized document but you can be confident that you have communicated all information accurately. Download this template for MS Word and Google Sheets.
