Having a strong cover letter and updated resume is a good start, but there will always be someone who looks better on paper and will stand out in a competitive field or tight job market. The good news is there is another way to stand out: great references. Employers use references to verify employment dates and vet the accuracy of a resume, but there is also a more critical function: When employers are stuck deciding between multiple candidates that interview well and look great on paper, they can turn to references as a tie-breaker.
This article features free customizable reference list templates for job seekers, as well as a host of other popular reference list templates for vendors, businesses, and medical professionals. Use the navigation guide to jump ahead and learn about the purpose of different reference lists, how to choose references to list, and tips for optimizing their use. Download the free reference list templates available in Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Docs, and PDF formats, reach out to your network, and get ahead of the competition.
Use this standard professional reference list template to keep your contacts organized. Sometimes referred to as a job reference page, its functional format makes it easy for the user to find information. Save this template as a separate document for quick access when you need to submit references for a job application and bring a copy along to interviews. Remember: Never list references on your resume. Keep them separate and be prepared to provide the document on request, usually after the first interview. There is no need to write that references "are available on request" on your resume or job applications.
If an employer asks for a combination of professional and personal character references, list the professional references first. This template includes space to highlight your professional relationships before listing the personal character references.
Tech professionals, IT managers, and project management stakeholders might check a vendor’s references to verify that clients are satisfied with their products and services or to validate specific details such as the cost of services, project timelines, and deliverables. Choose current clients and tailor the vendor references to the specific industry of the potential client. List the best references first and verify that the contact listed has enough information on the purpose of the reference to provide a positive, informative recommendation.
Use this vendor reference list template to provide potential clients with a list of references who will endorse a vendor’s products and services. The template provides contact information, but more importantly, there is also space to highlight details of the products and services provided, project dates, and any relevant information the vendor identifies as important for the client to know before contacting the reference.
Employers, college admissions committees, and volunteer organizations sometimes ask for character (or personal) references as part of the application or interview process. A character reference list is a formal business document. Like a professional reference list, it should match your resume and cover letter formatting but be saved as a separate document. Do not submit a personal character reference list with an application unless asked to do so.
The difference between the professional and personal reference list template is the type of contact listed. Instead of using professional references and highlighting their credentials, list personal references who can vouch for your character outside of work. You can use teachers, coaches, church officials, counselors, or mentors to create your character reference list. Use this template to provides information about your character references.
Businesses provide references to banks and investors to establish its creditworthiness. A credit reference template lists contacts from banks, companies, and investors that will attest to your solvency and financial accountability. List the strongest, most relevant credit references in descending order. Select credit references that are current and represent a positive, ongoing financial relationship.
This template provides banks, lenders, and employers with a list of references to contact when determining your creditworthiness and accountability. There is space to include details about the financial relationship and information on the type of organization, account representatives, payment terms, the account tenure, etc.
The purpose of a trade (or business) reference list is to organize contacts that vouch for a businesses creditworthiness and performance. Lenders and business-to-business (B2B) suppliers within the same industry use trade references to vet a business before supplying their products and services on credit terms. The information they might obtain from the references on your list includes overall customer experience with the company, the length of the relationship, sales with the business, type of credit terms (for example, Net 30), and any history of late payments or legal action against the company. Build your trade reference list with current suppliers that can attest to the status of your account and verify your ability to meet payment terms. List your best trade references first in order of the longest to shortest tenured relationships.
The trade reference list is similar to a credit reference list and is sometimes used to verify creditworthiness of a business. The difference between the two is the emphasis on business (or “trade”) relationships instead of on listing financial institutions and investors. This template is formatted to highlight trade relationships and provide information on accounts payable contacts, payment terms, and credit limits.
High-paying medical jobs are competitive, and the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical professionals vying for these jobs need to find a competitive advantage. Having a thorough, updated medical professional reference list is one way to do so. Medical schools often ask for at least three letters of reference from the undergraduate candidate’s college professors, teacher assistants, or research directors. Provide character and educational references related to your program of study and the reference letter contacts you used for a medical school application.
This template is formatted to highlight the research activities, volunteer projects, education credentials, career, or classroom successes that relate to the contact provided. List colleagues, professors, teacher assistants, administrators, and research partners that will help you stand out from the competition. You can modify this medical professional template to serve as a college reference list.
A professional reference sheet is a list of professional contacts (for example former or current coworkers or supervisors) who can vouch for your skills and qualifications for a specific job. The sheet is used to organize and list your relevant professional contacts for employment purposes — this makes it easy for potential employers to find information quickly. A simple, concise, and well-formatted reference sheet demonstrates the kind of professional attributes your contacts will be asked to confirm.
Employers use your reference sheet during the interview process and may contact your references by phone or email to ask about your qualifications, verify employment, confirm required technical skills, or get an idea about how your previous workplace culture compares to their work environment. Do not include a professional reference list for a job unless specifically asked (or required) to do so and always keep your resume and reference sheet separate.
When it comes to creating a reference page for potential employers, it’s best to keep it straight forward. The standard elements of a useful reference list include the following:
Use a functional reference list template to make it easy for the user to access pertinent information about your references. Below are some tips for creating your own:
Using a well-designed reference list and keeping it updated is helpful, but the most crucial element is deciding who to use as a point of contact. After all, if an employer requests professional or character references, you should be prepared for them to contact each reference. That said, here are some tips for curating a reference list page including who, how, when, where, and what to highlight:
Employers that consistently check references during the interview process appreciate the value of the information gained. Reference checks are time-consuming, especially over the phone. Use a reference checking template to keep the conversation moving and focused on the candidate. For more on reference checking forms see the article “Free Reference Check Forms.”
Download Telephone Reference Check Form Template
A reference call checklist streamlines the process by ensuring all of the essential information is verified efficiently. You can customize the reference check template checklist with specific questions and send it in an email when you cannot reach the contact by phone or if the reference asks for more time to answer the questions.
Download Reference Check Template Checklist
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