From the very first glimpse of your resume and beyond, impressions happen at every stage of the interview process. And that includes the reference list you give / send to the employer. So here’s an example I created of a sample reference page you can use as a template for your own references sheet.
Sample Reference Page
***********
Professional References
Joan Doe
1212 Mockingbird Lane
Jobville, OH 55555
(555) 555-5555
jdoe@eaddress.com
=========================================================
Joe Smith-Jones, Executive Director
Clarity Corporation
2222 Second Avenue
Jobville, OH 55555
(555) 555-5556
joe@sampleemail.com
NOTE: Joe was my boss at Clarity for two years.
Smithy Josephson, General Manager
Other Company
3333 Third Avenue
Jobville, OH 55555
(555) 555-5766
Smithy@sampleemail2.com
NOTE: Smithy was my boss at Clarity for one year. He is now at Other Company.
Timothy TimTim
Clarity Corporation
2222 Second Avenue
Jobville, OH 55555
(555) 555-5557
Tim@sampleemail.com
NOTE: Tim was a fellow project manager at Clarity.
Laura Laurason
Yet Another Company, Inc.
4444 Fourth Avenue
Jobville, OH 55555
(555) 555-6756
Laura@sampleemail3.com
NOTE: Laura was my boss for three years at Yet Another Company, Inc.
**This is a sample reference page owned by WorkToTheWise.com. It is meant to help you put together your own professional references page for job interviews.
Sample reference page (list) image
And this is how the example reference list looks on the page:
[Click to view on separate page]
What are those notes for?
Although you’re familiar with your work history and where your references fit into that, you want to help the reader understand quickly & easily. So I suggest adding a note under each reference to clarify who what and where.
This can also come in handy if your references are old or you don’t want anyone at your current company contacted yet. Or if there is anything else you’d like to explain. Keep it short. But by all means help them understand what you already know.
More thoughts on references
If you impressed the hiring team enough to get asked for your references, that’s a really good sign. Not a guarantee of a job offer. But at least one more chance to impress them — both with the quality of the references themselves and with the way your references page looks.
Often, the reference list pages I got were ok enough to serve their basic purpose. But when someone took the time and effort to make them look professional, it told me more about who they are. As a person — and as a potential employee. (Proofread them carefully.)
Oh … and please make sure to check with your references in advance for accuracy AND for their truly supportive willingness. You don’t want any unhappy surprises at this point!
More posts to help
What Does It Mean If a Job Is Checking Your References?
Job References: What If Former Bosses Don’t Work There Any More
They Want Supervisor References. Are These OK?
What Is a Reference Checker?
Why You Should CALL Your References
What Types of Questions Do Reference Checkers Ask?
How Is a Job Application Different from a Resume?
12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview
They Reposted the Job. Should I Kiss It Good-Bye?
How Often Should I Call an Employer After My Interview?
So What Really Happens After a Job Interview?
10 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job Offer
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